County’s Fall Full Of Pressure-Packed Decisions

Fully staffed city Fire Departments will drive up costs in the future for the already cash-strapped city of Jamestown.
P-J file photo

Some significant and painful choices are on the horizon in the final four months of 2024. As August and summer rapidly move toward a conclusion, January will bring a vastly different landscape nationally and in Chautauqua County.

Much of America’s attention at the moment revolves around the presidency. Just about everyone has an opinion on the race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Though Nov. 5 has become more compelling since President Joe Biden stepped aside, most voters know where they stand and who they are choosing.

Locally, campaign season will rev up though the election slate is sparse. State Sen. George Borrello is running unopposed while U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy seems on cruise control in his battle against Tom Carle, who has a strong private-sector background.

Who will replace retiring Assemblyman Andrew Goodell is the race with the most consequence this year. Republicans tapped Andrew Molitor, first assistant district attorney, to vie for the seat while Michael Bobseine announced his intentions before Christmas.

No stranger to the political arena, Bobseine served previously in the Chautauqua County Legislature and as a Fredonia Central School board member. Since Democrats call most of the shots in Albany, he contends the region would benefit from his election to the post.

Though there’s plenty of truth to that belief, Molitor may hold the upper hand based on the last six years. Republicans have been dominant in many town, village, city and county elections. That is consistent with rural voting trends in the nation as well.

Other issues worth watching:

— Dunkirk’s fiscal crisis. By early December, city taxpayers will know how jolly they can afford to be during the holiday season. Facing an $18 million deficit — and a likely $26 million budget for the next year, taxes are likely to be increasing significantly.

Just this week, the Finance Committee heard New York state is not going to go easy on the municipality. Officials had hoped for a payment plan on the hundreds of thousands of dollars it owes to the retirement system for municipal employees. Instead, they were told the debt needs to be paid — in full — on Feb. 4.

Higher taxes will not be the only solution for council members and first-year Mayor Kate Wdowiasz. A bloated spending plan, which fed off of federal COVID funding for three years, has to be on the chopping block.

“The state will be looking for us to make some cuts, too,” said Ellen Luczkowiak, city fiscal affairs officer. “They’re not going to let us not balance our budget.”

This council — and those of the previous six years — has proven itself to be aloof when it comes to making choices that are best for the bottom line. Now that doomsday has arrived, they have to deliver on tough and uncomfortable choices.

— Jamestown’s sustainability — Homelessness is not the only calamity facing the county’s largest municipality. Troubles taking place in the north county city may not be too far away here.

In recent months, the city has discussed a $1.9 million to $2.9 million budget shortfall for this year. That may be the tip of the iceberg moving forward.

Already near a taxing limit, there is little wiggle room when looking to next year. Governments that include paid police and fire departments are feeling a pinch. How Jamestown navigates a spending proposal that would be nearly $40 million will be a challenge.

— Mayville wizardry — Last year, Chautauqua County lowered its tax rate while maintaining a surplus of more than $37 million and increasing spending in a $292 million budget. A trip behind the curtain revealed a tax levy increase of $1.86 million. That’s the important figure — and a truer indication of escalating costs in the county seat.

What’s the formula for this year? Seeing how new positions keep getting created while higher pay scales are consistently being approved, the financial road may be a bit bumpier this year.

— SUNY stability. There were some positive reports for the fall semester at the Fredonia campus. Incoming student numbers were the highest in three years. Retaining those newcomers has to be a mission for the fall semester. Enrollment, which had dipped to under 3,000 in the spring, is so important to the economy of the north county.

— Fredonia’s field of dreams. In December, school district voters will decide on a $51 million proposal that includes three pieces: building renovations and repairs, upgrades to the music department and a new sports complex. If all are approved, these projects will hike school taxes by 10% starting with the 2025-26 calendar. There’s no debate surrounding Fredonia’s inadequate playing sites and surfaces.

Improvements will come at a high cost — and that does not even begin to include the increasing taxes, water and sewer rates in the village.

John D’Agostino is the editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.