This photo of the 2024 Chautauqua County Legislature was taken earlier this year. This body approved a 64% pay hike for their positions as well as holding on to taxpayer dollars.

Flush with cash, Chautauqua County legislators at the October meeting had a decision to make. It involved your money.

Should local lawmakers give property owners back some $2 million of nearly $40 million in reserves in 2025 and lower the tax levy or should they continue to hoard the big bucks?

That idea was presented by Robert Bankoski, D-Dunkirk, and backed by the other Democratic legislators. Business owner and Republican Fred Johnson of Westfield wine-making fame at Johnson Estate even understood the concept and was willing to back the idea.

“I will vote in favor of the $2 million going back to the taxpayers,” Johnson said. “I’m doing it to signal that the money we get from the taxpayers fundamentally belongs to them.”

Exactly.

But despite the plea from the Democratic legislators for the giveback, Republicans were closed fisted. They moved ahead in approving a plan that continues to up the levy — the total amount collected by taxes.

It appears representatives in Mayville are resting on their laurels — something that has become an unfortunate recent tradition. Though the county government is deserving of credit for not being in a fiscal mess, their current standing is coming on the backs of the property owners as the reserves are about 12% of the $300 million spending plan.

Not too long ago, county officials were counting every dime — and penny. In the fall of 2018 during George Borrello’s short reign as executive he spoke at that time of starting the budget process with a $4 million structural deficit in a $200 million plan.

“The county government runs very lean. There is no fat there,” he said. “Many of our departments are short staffed. … No department runs inefficiently. When we make cuts, it is painful.”

That was then. This is now.

Over those seven years, county spending has increased 30% while also increasing the number of employees. During Borrello’s term as executive — and many years as a legislator — times were tough. It was one of the reasons the County Home was sold in 2014 and the sales tax increased from 7.5% to 8%.

In the recent elections, inflation has been the dirty word. But it does have its benefits for those who collect taxes.

If prices are going up, that means not only do consumers get rained on with the increases, but those higher costs at the stores translate into sunnier sales-tax revenues for governments. In 2023, Chautauqua County received $91.8 million through that line, which was up from a hefty $85.3 million in 2021 — or a 7.6% rise.

That’s a snazzy bump for a government that is playing keep away with your money by placing it in reserves instead of giving it back. Online retail companies must be jealous of that refund policy.

In the meantime, the two major municipalities are suffering — big time. Dunkirk’s $16 million deficit is something that will start to touch everyone. Those tied to the North County Water District will see rates rise since the city is the main supplier and desperate for more revenues. Property owners are staring at a 108% tax increase next year. Private investment in the city could be — and already is — scared away, impacting future development.

By the way, corporate properties that are owned by Wells and NRG will not be facing the upcoming massive tax hikes because of payment in lieu of taxes agreements that were put in place with the county Industrial Development Agency.

Where’s the Legislature’s helping hand in this dire situation?

Jamestown will be facing a tax increase of 8% in 2025 and continues to be overwhelmed with a homeless crisis. Though it’s nowhere near as visible in November as it was in the summer, it remains — right in the heart of downtown.

Where’s the county’s acknowledgement of this quandary?

Both these significant topics that impact the quality of life have rarely been talking points at any Legislature meeting. With less than two months left in 2024, it’s another uninspired year for the Mayville representatives. They ignore the dungeon of problems in the cities, while celebrating what they consider to be fiscal responsibility.

That normally begins by being smarter — and more frugal — with your expenses. That has not happened in recent years.

This same group — in March — approved and defended a 63.7% pay hike for themselves that goes into effect in 2026. Fourteen Republicans led the way with the raises and the withholding of reserve funds from taxpayers last month. None of the five Democrats supported those proposals.

That gets back to one of Borrello’s final points in 2018 while struggling with a budget. “I’m very proud of the legislature and county government as a whole because I believe there is no political bias,” the respected state senator said then. “In the last four to five years, I can only think of one time when a vote in the legislature broke down party lines.”

That was then. This is now.

John D’Agostino is the editor of The Post-Journal, OBSERVER and Times Observer in Warren, Pa. Send comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com or call 716-487-1111, ext. 253.