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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

Village Election Results

Seven of nine villages in county are holding elections Tuesday

March 17, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star Three Cattaraugus County villages will be voting for mayor on Tuesday (March

(Sheriff's Office photo) K-9 Rex lies with some of the drugs and paraphernalia discovered during a traffic stop by Cattaraugus County Sheriff's deputies on North 12th Street in Olean March 14. Two Allegany residents were charged.

Two from Allegany charged with drug possession, use in Olean

March 16, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Two Allegany residents were taken into custody on

(Rick Miller/Olean Star) St. John the Evangelist Church, 931 N. Union St., Olean, has been targeted for merger with St. Maruy of the Angels Parish by Bishop Michael Fisher.

St. John’s Parish Core Group appeals bishop’s merger decree

March 16, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — St. John the Evangelist Parish has appealed to

(City of Olean) Seneca Nation Tribal Councillor Tina Abrams scolds Olean Mayor Bill Aiello and Common Council members Tuesday for the city’s inaction on preventing sewage overflows into the Allegheny River in times of heavy rains.

Seneca Nation members scold Olean mayor, council over sewage overflows

March 15, 2025

By RICK MILLER Olean Star OLEAN — Nearly 30 members of the Seneca Nation of Indians —