By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
Each Feb. 15, the Olean mayor presents a proposed 2026-27 budget for the coming year to the Common Council which must approve it by April 15. These dates are included in the city charter.
While Feb. 15 came on a Sunday this year, Mayor Amy Sherburne still had not presented aldermen with a copy of the proposed budget at Tuesday’s meeting.
Finance Committee Chairwoman Sonya McCall, D-Ward 4, told the Olean Star on Wednesday that the city purchased new software to help with the budget process. “We need the best version we can get,” she said of the tentative budget. “We should have it by Thursday.”
The Star left a message for the mayor Wednesday morning which was not returned by the time this story was published.
The 2025 city budget was $29.1 million and carried a $17.77 per $1,000 tax rate.
McCall said the new software will streamline the budget process, adding that while the mayor missed the Feb. 15 deadline, she wasn’t overly concerned.
Council President Vernon Robinson Jr., I-Ward 6, said aldermen received an email from Sherburne on Friday, Feb. 13, advising them the budget would not be presented on Feb. 15.
Robinson said the alderman would not discuss the budget until it was on the agenda — presumably next Tuesday night. The council generally meets Thursday nights to review the budget, which must be passed by April 15.
Alderman David Anastasia D-Ward 7, asked about a letter the mayor had sent to tax-free churches, non-profit groups and businesses with payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreements in the city asking how they would feel about making a voluntary contribution to the city.
“The council is expecting to have copies of the proposed budget before the end of this week with meetings potentially starting late next week in special meetings,” Robinson wrote on his Facebook page after the meeting.
Robinson declined to have the council talk about the measures that were not on Tuesday’s agenda.
The council again discussed what to do with an unexpected windfall of revenue from the city’s new occupancy, or bed tax.
Earlier this month, City Auditor Lens Martial told aldermen the bed tax had produced $214,000 in revenue since it went into effect June 2, 2025. When passed, the bed tax was expected to produce about $100,000 in revenue a year for the city
Finance Committee Chairman Sonya McCall, D-Ward 4, noted the prior administration had favored using the revenue for salaries in the Community Development Office, something the council members did not all agree on.
Public Works Director James Sprague reported that specifications for new LED street light heads to replace the ones installed on North Union Street that provide insufficient light. The lights will be “aimable” and illuminate more of the street. He hopes to be able to mount pedestrian lighting on the same poles.
Sprague also reported that tree removal in Oak Hill Park will be delayed until the soil is less muddy. Four trees are targeted for removal and others will be trimmed of dangerous limbs.
Aldermen also reviewed a proposal to replace 31 video cameras inside and outside the Municipal Building along with a 10-year contract to install and maintain the cameras and servers for $103,508. The five-year contract would cost $76,963. No action was taken.
