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Audit & Control Committee backs two-year extension of county1% sales tax; one legislator objects
Summary
Chautauqua Countylegislators voted in committee to request continuation of the special state legislation authorizing an extra 1% local sales tax for two years. County leaders said the revenue helps cover Medicaid and infrastructure while one legislator pressed to shift a larger share to cities and villages.
Chautauqua CountyAudit and Control Committee voted to request the state renew the special legislation that authorizes a county-level 1% sales tax extender, approving the committee resolution after discussion and one recorded nay.
The committee vote follows public comment and a lengthy committee discussion about how the extra 1% is used. County Executive Wendell and other county officials told the committee the revenue contributes to Medicaid, road and bridge projects, and the countyreserve for indebtedness. Resident Robert Scott urged the committee to both renew the 1% and consider increasing the share returned to cities and villages to help offset local event and public-safety costs that boost sales tax revenue.
The resolution matters because the extra 1% is authorized by county-specific state extender legislation; renewing it requires asking the state before the legislatureadjourns for its spring session. County staff and legislators said the request must be made now to ensure the extender is in place before the current authorization expires in late 2025.
County Executive Wendell said the countyretains a fraction of the 1% (described in committee as 85% of that 1% rather than 85% of the total sales tax rate) and explained that the existing 3% local sales tax is split 50/50 between county and local governments. He told the committee that an estimated $20 million per year of revenue is at stake if the extender is not renewed and that the county budgets conservatively for sales-tax receipts.
Several legislators argued for caution about reallocating the distribution now, noting that changes to the allocation are set by state statute. Legislator Abdullah clarified that if the county wants a different split of the 1% proceeds (for example, to give more to cities and villages), that change must be requested in the state legislation that carries the extender. Legislator Nelson said he favors an 80/20 split to help cities such as Jamestown and Dunkirk but acknowledged the countybudget consequences.
The committee recorded an affirmative vote to request renewal of the extender; one legislator opposed. The committee chair said details of any future reallocation can be discussed later in the budget process or in separate legislative action.
Votes at a glance: The committee approved the resolution requesting continuation of the special state legislation authorizing the additional 1% sales tax; one nay was recorded in committee. The vote authorizes the county to ask the state to extend the 1% as currently structured unless and until the legislature decides otherwise.
Context: The extra 1% is a county-specific state extender that must be renewed by the state legislature. County leaders emphasized the short calendar window for asking Albany to act before the legislatureadjourns for the session. They also noted the separate 3% local sales tax that is already governed differently and shared 50/50 between county and local governments.
