The Chautauqua County Audit & Control Committee voted to amend the county’s 2017 government reduction initiative to make up to $500,000 available to municipalities and special districts pursuing consolidations, dissolutions or shared-service arrangements.

County Executive PJ Windle described the change as an expansion of earlier support that had capped awards at $50,000 and later $100,000 for certain dissolution efforts. Windle said the intent is to provide funding for feasibility work and for implementation steps where communities choose to proceed. “What this does…is provide the opportunity to special districts or districts, fire districts within the county looking at mergers, consolidations, shared services,” Windle said.

Legislators asked procedural questions about how any specific consolidation or dissolution proposal would reach the legislature for approval. Windle said the planning department would bring an application forward and that any specific proposal would require a resolution and a vote by the legislature, similar to the county’s prior involvement in the dissolution of the Village of Forestville.

Multiple legislators noted the limits of county authority under New York State home rule. One legislator emphasized: the county can offer incentives and assistance but cannot force municipalities or districts to consolidate. Committee members also noted prior state-level efforts (a $20 million New York State initiative referenced from earlier years) that the county had pursued but did not secure.

Why it matters: the revised fund creates a dedicated county-level incentive to help local governments evaluate and, if they choose, implement structural consolidations or shared services to reduce costs. Committee members asked staff to circulate application processes and confirmed that any specific consolidation would come before the legislature for separate approval.

Ending: The committee carried the amendment by voice vote. County staff said municipalities have expressed interest but many will wait for the program to be official before applying.