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Opinion

Budget proposal threatens stability

Commentary

A recent OBSERVER/Post-Journal editorial asked if the Chautauqua County 2027 budget is realistic. I think a better question is: “Is the 2027 budget prudent?” The answer to that question is “No.” I was the County Budget Director from 2017-2023. I worked for three county executives, including Executive PJ Wendel. The executives and the Finance Department agreed the budget should be structurally balanced, the tax levy should not exceed the levy limit, and general fund balance should only be used for unusual or unexpected expenditures. In this year’s tentative budget, two of ...

Poverty rates take troubling toll on youth

Editor's corner

As energy and grocery costs continue what seems as an unending climb, many households — even those working multiple full-time jobs — are experiencing more than just a pinch. It is an absolute cash gash. Within the last month, the New York State Association of Counties continued banging ...

Blakeman brings energy, enthusiasm to campaign

Commentary

Let’s pick up where we left off last week. It’s worth encouraging “Never Trumps to imagine what would have become of the law if Donald Trump had lost the 2016 presidential election and not filled the three Supreme Court vacancies from 2017 to 2020.” Please think about that. We’ll ...

Edibles with a shelf life of 25 years

Commentary

It began during another cleanout day in the garage. We expect to be moving within the year and are trying to purge everything we don’t use. It’s a nightmare. The dictionary defines purge: “to get rid of whatever is impure or undesirable; to cleanse; to purify.” Well, anything stored ...

Adjusting county tax auction process

The OBSERVER’s View

The OBSERVER’s View: Adjusting county tax auction process Chautauqua County has approved the tax auction sales of 130 properties throughout the county – but the decision wasn't unanimous. Nor, in our opinion, should it have been. There were enough complaints from property owners of properties ending up at the tax auction with a lack of notice or other issues that property owners say they weren't aware of to raise questions. The property sale the legislature didn't approve last week involved a property in which one of the bidders alleged the original property owner, who shouldn't ...

Democrats ran up the tab we’re all paying for

Commentary

This election season, Democrats have latched on to the issue of affordability, a problem that the Biden administration did much to cause and which the second Trump administration is working to correct. It is important for Americans to understand that price increases due to inflation do not ...