MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Legislature is having a special meeting this afternoon so that lawmakers can primarily focus on the 2013 budget when the panel meets for a second time tonight. During the second meeting – which begins at the usual time of 6:30 p.m. – a public hearing on the budget will take place. Lawmakers may also choose to act on the budget as well, which as seen some changes since first being introduced by County Executive Greg Edwards nearly a month ago.
Edwards’ executive budget proposal calls for a tax levy increase of 1.72 percent, a $1.3 million increase over this year’s $61 million levy. The property tax rate would see an increase of 3 cents per $1,000 assessed value, equaling a .38 percent bump.
Among the changes made to the budget is the removal of revenue from the sale of the the Chautauqua County Home. Lawmakers would instead use an additional $5 million from the county fund balance to make up the difference in the budget and to help keep the tax rate lower. Under the amended changes, the county tax rate would be increased 18 cents to $9.40 per $1,000 assessed value.
Tonight’s meeting again begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be open to the public.
Leave a Reply