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(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Olean Mayor Amy B. Sherburne said Friday new state aid will help reduce the 18.6% tax rate in the proposed $23.2 million city budget.

Mayor not surprised at reaction to proposed 18.6% tax rate hike; new state aid to reduce it

February 21, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Olean Mayor Amy B. Sherburne wasn’t surprised at the negative

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Olean Mayor Amy B. Sherburne on Thursday presented a $23.2 million budget for 2026-2027 that carries a $3.31 tax increase or 18.6%.

Sherburne’s first proposed budget contains 18.6% property tax hike

February 19, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star In her first proposed budget, Olean Mayor Amy B. Sherburne

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Olean Common Council President Vernon Robinson Jr., I-Ward 6, and Finance Committee Chairwoman Sonya McCall, D-Ward 4, at a recent meeting. The 2026-27 city budget was three days late, but was not addressed Tuesday because it was not on the agenda.

Sherburne expected to submit proposed 2026-27 budget on Thursday, four days after it was due

February 18, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Each Feb. 15, the Olean mayor presents a proposed 2026-27

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Members of the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Board discuss a proposed $6 million Olean brownfield cleanup project Tuesday.

Developer seeks IDA sales tax exemption on River Street brownfield cleanup

February 17, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star ELLICOTTVILLE — A local developer is proposing a brownfield cleanup

(City of Olean) The John J. Ash Community Center on North Barry Street will now be open as a warming center Sundays for Code Blue events to give people somewhere to keep warm. It is already open other days in days where the temperature drops below freezing.

John J. Ash Community Center open Sunday for Code Blue event

February 14, 2026

John J. Ash Community Center open Sunday for Code Blue event By RICK MILLER Olean

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) A group of people skate on the synthetic ice surface at the Bill Flanigan Memorial Ice Pond, where a grand re-opening and ribbon cutting were held Friday in Salamanca.

Bill Flanigan Memorial Ice Pond grand re-opening held in Salamanca Friday

February 14, 2026

By RICK MILLER Olean Star SALAMANCA — The City of Salamanca’s Bill Flanigan Memorial Ice

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Members of the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency met in its Ellicottville offices on Tuesday.

Cattaraugus County IDA OKs $9.6 million in tax inducements, does not approve Alle-Catt PILOT

March 26, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star ELLICOTTVILLE — Tax breaks for business expansion projects in Olean, Allegany and

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca at his inauguration last November at the Seneca Allegany Casino and Event Center in Salamanca.

Seneca president, councilors meet with governor who will issue apology over state role in Thomas Indian School abuse

March 26, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca and Seneca tribal councilors met earlier

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Construction work on Walkable Olean 4 — South Union Street from Franchot Boulevard to State Street — resumed Monday by Millennium Construction.

Walkable Olean 4 construction resumed on South Union Street Monday

March 26, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Millennium Construction resumed work Monday on Walkable Olean 4 —

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) Bob Wright of Wright’s Farms, Farmersville, keeps watch over the wood-fired evaporator boiling down maple sap into syrup in the farm’s sugar house on Laidlaw Road. The farm has been making maple syrup since 1840.

Wright’s Farms has been in maple business since 1840

March 26, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star FARMERSVILLE — Wright’s Farm on Laidlaw Road in Farmersville has been producing