Chautauqua County lawmakers will most likely have several recommendations to help save money for the Chautauqua County Home after tonight. The ad-hoc committee charged with finding the best way to help the county home out of a financial hole will be meeting this evening in Mayville to discuss the future of the county home. The panel is also expected to discuss cost-saving suggestions that came forward last month in a report by the Center for Governmental Research.
The committee’s Chairman, John Runkle (R-Cassadaga), said while some lawmakers and county officials – including County Executive Greg Edwards – feel the only solution is to sell the county home, he says the committee’s role is to consider any and all cost saving measures that would allow the skilled nursing facility to come closer to breaking even.
While several people are in favor of selling the home, Runkle doesn’t believe enough votes are there to allow the sale of the county home to take place. The legislature needs at least a two-thirds majority – or 17 votes – to approve the sale of a county property. But a recent anonymous straw poll conducted by the Jamestown Post-Journal found that only 12 lawmakers said they would sell the County Home if a vote were to take place today. Edwards also came out earlier this week, saying that a public referendum on the sale of the county home would not be allowed under state law.
Tonight’s Ad Hoc Committee meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Gerace office building in Mayville. It is open to the public.
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