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Committee reviews revenue lines, proposed fee increases and parking/bed-tax uncertainties
Summary
Finance committee examined multiple revenue items — PILOT receipts, ambulance and franchise fees, proposed clerk and dog-license fee increases — and discussed an uncertain $100,000 parking-QR-code revenue line and creating a bed-tax capital fund.
The Olean Finance Committee reviewed several revenue assumptions and proposed fee changes during its March 20 meeting, including payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) receipts, ambulance and franchise revenues, proposed increases to clerk and dog-license fees, and the status of bed-tax revenue and a proposed parking QR-code program.
Staff reported a PILOT payment increase tied to a formerly exempt property. The assessor indicated a PILOT figure of roughly $155,000 was realistic; that would generate an estimated $80,000 more in revenue than the prior year’s amount under normal tax-roll assumptions, staff said.
The committee heard that ambulance-fee collections were running ahead of last year, with staff noting an increase compared with the prior budget year. Franchise-fee receipts were expected to arrive from the county in March; staff said totals are uncertain until the county remits payment.
On staffing of parking operations and a potential QR-code system for paid parking on North Union Street, staff said a conservative $100,000 revenue estimate was included in the budget, but the line may be removed if the council does not approve the QR-code rollout and related part-time staffing. Committee members agreed the $100,000 could be included only if the parking plan and staffing are approved.
Members discussed municipal bed-tax (lodging) revenue. Staff said five businesses — two hotels and three short-term rentals — had registered with the city’s recently implemented collection system and that bed-tax receipts are likely to begin flowing to the city in April or May. No bed-tax capital fund has yet been established; members recommended creating one to segregate revenue for tourism, advertising and related projects.
The committee also reviewed proposed fee changes from the clerk’s office. Staff presented a package of increases that included raising birth and death certificate copies from $10 to $30, bumping a bad-check fee from $20 to $50, and increases to deed and tax search fees (from $10 to $20). The clerk’s office also proposed raising dog-license fees: spayed/neutered dogs from $19 to $29 and unneutered dogs from $29 to $39. Members agreed to place the fee schedule on a future agenda for formal consideration.
No final votes on fee changes, the parking-QR-code revenue, or the creation of a bed-tax capital fund were taken at the meeting; staff will return with any needed follow-up information.
