FORESTVILLE: Tax warning part of coming issues

February 27, 2025

Forestville Central Schools knew a tax increase was coming for district residents. Superintendent John O’Connor was very open about the possibility when talking about the budget last year at this time. In the proposal for 2025-26, the increase is 2.3%. What’s more concerning is what O’Connor talked about later in the meeting. The district noted that as of June 30, the District maintained a total fund balance of $5,877,913. Of that total, 14% was unassigned fund balance, totaling $828,376. With the allocation of funds to account for increased costs and decreased State Aid, the ...

COUNTY: Take the politics out of the judiciary

February 26, 2025

Was there dirty pool played in the race for Chautauqua County Family Court Judge prior to the November election? It sure seems that way. The filing of criminal charges against Sally Jaroszynski in October for allegedly illegal nominating petitions doomed an already longshot campaign. Jaroszynski, who has run for the position in the past as a Democrat, changed her party affiliation to Republican before last year’s election. She didn’t receive the party’s endorsement and tried to run on the Working Families Party line - which meant she had little chance of beating her ...

ARKWRIGHT New town hall is spending spree

February 25, 2025

As larger municipalities look to rein in spending, one of the smallest government entities is looking to build. This month, Arkwright appeared ready to move ahead with a new town hall. “We’re excited. I think it’s good. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” said Town of Arkwright Supervisor Brian McAvoy. “Nothing should stop us from doing it.” In the first phase, LaBella will prepare the designs and documents leading up to the bid process for the building itself. If satisfied, the Town will likely come to an agreement with LaBella to manage the bid process, and another phase ...

New YORK STATE Strikes need quick attention

February 24, 2025

In our opinion, Gov. Kathy Hochul took the wrong first step when prison workers went on strike Monday in Collins, Brocton and more than two dozen other state prisons. Because the governor didn’t immediately invoke the Taylor Act, which prohibits strikes by members of unions representing public safety workers like police officers, firefighters and corrections officers, Hochul is acting from a weaker position. That’s a problem because if this series of strikes isn’t resolved quickly, what stops a similar strike from happening in communities throughout the state? The city of ...

GOVERNMENT: Fly-car operations can be expanded

February 22, 2025

Chautauqua County started its fly-car system in 2017 with a focus on nontransporting emergency medical service vehicles that respond to and provide emergency medical services without the ability to transport patients. Municipalities who have their own responders — including Dunkirk and Fredonia — are paying for this service. Starting with the village — where trustees say they are staring at a tax increase of 68% for next year if they don’t do anything for 2025-26 — there is an opportunity for a consolidation of sorts. Why not have the fly cars — not the village Fire ...

Other voices: Trump could learn from Washington

February 21, 2025

Though rarely honored these days exactly on Feb. 22, his actual birth date, “Presidents Day” is officially still Washington’s birthday. And that’s entirely right and proper, as every American should happily honor our first chief executive. Washington was a man for the ages. Born a Virginia aristocrat, he carefully cultivated his virtues — self-control, moderation, civility; his strengths physical and moral — to become the most widely admired presence first in the 13 colonies, then in the new nation. As president, he also set the future course of the US government ...