GOP rejects $2M fund balance use, says more will be spent

MAYVILLE – A proposal by a Democratic Chautauqua County Legislator to ask the county executive to use $2 million of reserves when preparing the 2026 budget was rejected, although some Republicans say it’s time to spend down at least some of that fund balance. Legislator Fred Larson of Jamestown prefiled a resolution that noted the county’s unappropriated fund balance is over $30 million which is “well above the agreed upon minimum of 5% of the county budget or approximately $16 million.” The resolution notes that with gasoline costs at more than $4 a gallon, the…