Chautauqua County Executive P.J. Wendel has officially signed off on a new $330 million budget for 2027 that again cuts the county's property tax rate. However, the measure approved by the legislature increases the tax levy -- or the amount to be raised by taxes -- by $1.8 million. Wendel says while he still believes his spending plan with a flat tax levy was "doable," he was okay with what the legislature adopted last week...
P.J. Wendel: six tax rate reductions in seven years
The tax rate in 2027 will be $5.46 per thousand, which is 14 cents more than he initially proposed. The Lakewood Republican adds, though, that he's concerned some lawmakers aren't getting the full picture of what's in the spending plan...
P.J. Wendel: no one is asking the Finance Director
Wendel says one of the biggest concerns he has about the county budgets is people in the private sector have a particular way of budgeting their revenues and costs. However, he says county services -- especially those that are mandated -- cannot be cut.
