LITTLE VALLEY — After a review of budget accounts it oversees, the Cattaraugus County Legislature Finance Committee on Wednesday added $1 million to the 2024 road, bridge and culvert program.
The 2024 capital program included $22.5 million for road, bridges and culverts and $4.2 million for buildings and grounds. That is a $7 million cut from the $34 million the county legislature budgeted for both programs this year.
Finance Committee Chairman Andrew Burr, R-Gowanda, said the $289.7 million spending plan for 2024 was “tight” and blamed $7 million in new unfunded state mandates for the cut in capital programs.
The Finance Committee chairman cited $3.2 million in FMAP Medicaid funding Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed taking from the county, $1 million in new funding for legal defense of indigents, a $1 million loss in property foreclosures and $500,000 for drug treatment for jail inmates and new unfunded mandates in the 2024 county budget.
Burr said the $1 million in new capital funding would come from the county’s general fund balance.
In another change to the tentative budget presented last week by County Administrator Jack Searles, $77,341 was restored to the Olean Airport improvement account.
The 2023 appropriation of $95,000 remains unspent. The 2024 budget request was $95,000 but was cut to $17,659 by Searles, the budget officer. The funding will help pay the city’s share of costs for runway improvements.
Searles noted the tentative budget contains no revenue from tribal casino funds. The state and Seneca Nation have not agreed to terms for a new gaming compact to replace the one that expires next month.
Searles remains bullish on the economy, as he is projecting $1.9 million in next sales tax receipts in 2024.
The tax levy, or amount to be raised by property taxes is up $2.3 million in the 2024 budget to $57.5 million, Searles said. That is a 4.2% increase over the 2023 levy but remains under the state’s tax cap.
A 17% increase in the assessed value of property in the county enabled the county budget officer to keep[ the property tax rate in check.
The full value tax rate will go from $10.05 per $1,000 to $8.94 per $1,000, a 10.7% decrease. Revenues for 2024 are projected to increase by $13 million.
A public hearing on the tentative budget as amended will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the James J. Snyder Legislative Chamber on the third floor of the County Center.
