Overall the 10 towns, 4 villages remain at same level since 2001

Charts: Orleans Hub with data from Orleans County Legislature.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has set the sales tax amounts for the 10 towns and four villages for 2025.

Overall, the towns and villages collectively remain at $1,366,671, the same amount they have received since 2001.

But in 2025, there is a slight shift to the villages by $4,014 or $383,407 to $387,421. Most of that increase is for the Village of Albion – up $3,077 to $162,169.

The county uses a formula in determining the village share by dividing the village taxable value by the town taxable value. In Albion, which completed a village and townwide reassessment in 2024, the village assessed value increased a bigger percentage than the towns’, resulting in a slight boost in the local sales tax.

That was also the case in Lyndonville, where Yates and the village completed reassessments in 2024. The village share went up $1,566, while Yates is down by $1,566.

In Holley and Medina, where there weren’t town-wide reassessments in 2024, the village share shrunk – down $530 in Medina and $98 in Holley.

The previous year, Shelby and Ridgeway completed town-wide reassessments that resulted in an $8,114 sales tax shift for Medina in 2024 – from $152,046 to $160,160. But next year it will creep back by $530.

The majority of town and village boards in 2023 passed resolutions asking the County Legislature to increase the sales tax to the municipalities, but the Legislature opted against that in the 2024 budget, citing other rising costs for the county.

The towns and villages didn’t make much noise about the issue in 2024, and Legislature has again kept the sales tax at $1,366,671.

The county takes in about $23 million overall in local sales tax. After big increases in recent years, the sales tax revenue was lagging behind for much of 2024, compared to 2023 levels. The county did see growth in the third quarter and was $150,000 ahead of the 2023 levels after the third quarter.

Organization was dropped as line item in 2025 budget

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Cobblestone Museum, a National Historic Landmark on Route 104 in Gaines, is a caretaker of many artifacts from throughout the county.

ALBION – The Cobblestone Museum, which was dropped as a line item in the county’s 2025 budget, will get $3,000 in funding from the county’s contingency fund.

The museum was in the 2024 county budget as a line item for $3,000. But county officials said the museum didn’t submit the paperwork for a formal request for funding in 2025, resulting in the museum being excluded in the budget. (The museum made its request through Fred Miller, a county legislator.)

The museum received $3,000 from the contingency fund in prior years. During a Dec. 17 meeting, the Legislature approved the $3,000, although Legislator Don Allport, R-Gaines, opposed it.

Allport has consistently opposed county funding for the museum in most recent years. He said the organization didn’t follow the proper process and he said the county shouldn’t be contributing to non-profit organizations.

“This is setting a precedent,” he said.

The other six legislators approved the funding for the museum, which expects to start construction on an expanded visitor center this year.

The county’s total budget includes $99,092,747 in spending, a 7.1 percent increase from 2024 that increases taxes by 1.95 percent.

The county allocates some funding to different agencies that provide services in the community.

Here are the funding amounts for 2025: Soil & Water Conservation District, $100,500; GO Art!, $4,000; Cornell Cooperative Extension, $240,000; four public libraries, $10,087 collectively; Orleans Economic Development Agency, $200,000; and Mercy Flight, $5,000.

The Sportsmen’s Federation used to be in the county budget and typically received $1,000 a year through 2023. It was dropped to $0 in 2024 and wasn’t allocated any funding for 2025.

The neighboring county of Genesee gives more to its museum and agencies that provide services in the community. Genesee has 58,388 people, compared to 40,343 in Orleans County.

Genesee has 44.7 percent more people, and nearly doubles the spending in Orleans County – $190,415,199 budget compared to $99,092,747 in Orleans.

Here are the amounts Genesee gives to some of the agencies in the community: Holland Land Office Museum, $38,554; libraries, $53,680; Soil & Water, $173,851; Cornell Cooperative Extension, $408,613; and GO Art!, $7,500.

He has served in role while working as nurse supervisor at Medina Memorial Hospital, volunteering as Ridgeway firefighter

Photos by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Legislator Don Allport, right, presents a “Special Recognition Award” from County legislature to Charlie Smith in honor of his 30 years as a county coroner. Smith is retiring from the role on Dec. 31.

ALBION – Charle Smith is leaving his office as county coroner with praise from county legislators and his colleagues.

Smith on Tuesday received a “Special Recognition Award” from the Orleans County Legislature for his 30 years as coroner.

Smith started as a coroner on Jan. 1, 1995. He typically handled 20 to 25 calls a year where he determined the cause and manner of death, and then prepared the death certificates. He also generally did another dozen calls a year that were phone releases with hospital nurses where the death was not unexpected.

“You always responded with empathy and afforded dignity to the decedents, family members and others involved in these situation,” according to the award from the Legislature. “Although a challenging role, you have represented Orleans County and assisted many families during a difficult time.”

Smith said the job of coroner has been “interesting and challenging.” A coroner needs in-depth medical knowledge. Smith graduated from Buffalo General School of Nursing in 1975. He also has attended many trainings through the NYS Association of County Coroners and Medical Examiners.

“It’s been an honor and a pleasure to serve the people of our county,” Smith told county legislators on Tuesday when he was presented with an award.

County Legislator Don Allport reads a proclamation declaring Jan. 19-25  as “Medico-legal Death Investigations Professionals Week.” He presents it to from left: Chief County Coroner Scott Schmidt, incoming coroner Julie Woodworth, and retiring coroner Charlie Smith.

Coroners are typically called to a scene when a person dies who isn’t under direct care of a doctor or at a nursing home.

Smith served in the role while working as a nurse supervisor at Medina Memorial Hospital and as an active firefighter with the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company. He will continue with the hospital and fire company after retiring from coroner.

Smith has worked at the hospital for 35 years, and has 52 years with the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company. He also worked two years as a flight nurse with Mercy Flight.

Scott Schmidt, the county’s chief coroner, said Smith has been “a pillar of the community” doing a “yeoman’s job” as coroner.

Julie Woodworth, a nurse who has worked with Smith at Medina Memorial Hospital, will take his spot as coroner beginning Jan. 1. She was elected on Nov. 5.

She praised Smith’s ethics, dedication and service.

“Charlie’s decades of service have been defined by professionalism, compassion and an unwavering pursuit of truth in the face of adversity,” Woodworth said.

Smith said he plans to spend more time with his wife and family, and also expects to go on more fishing, hunting and camping trips.

Jeff Cole will continue as handler following Otto’s retirement

Photos by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Cole, left in front, and Sheriff Chris Bourke introduce Odin, a Belgian Malinois, to county legislators during Tuesday’s Legislature meeting.

Jeff Cole introduces Odin to county legislators and officials on Tuesday. Odin has been trained for tracking and searches, and soon will be certified for drug detection.

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department has welcomed Odin, a K9 that is already trained in tracking and searches. Odin will finish his certification later this month for drug detection.

Odin, a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois, is paired with K9 handler Jeff Cole. Odin has been in a narcotics detection school the past 10 weeks at the City of Rochester. Odin has been working with Cole the past 3 months.

The dog is from Holland and was imported by Upstate K-9 Boarding Kennels in Hilton.

Cole worked with the Sheriff’s Department’s previous K9, Otto. That dog retired after 8 ½ years in August.

Odin was paid for through community donations and a forfeiture account from the District Attorney’s Office.

Sheriff Bourke said Odin and Cole will be available to assist other departments in the county and in neighboring counties when needed.

“It’s a great asset to the Sheriff’s Department to have a K9 available,” he told county legislators.

‘I’ve always loved Orleans County but now I have a better understanding of it’

Photos by Tom Rivers: The class of the 2024 Leadership Orleans program is pictured after the graduation program on Thursday evening at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville. Pictured front row from left: Marsha Rivers, Courtney Henderson, Barbara Koert, Reita Fletcher, Melinda Daniels, Melinda Rhim, Linda Weller, Pam Rounds and Tina Bell. Second row: Lisa Stenshorn, Lisa Bors, June Robinson, Tiffany Smith, Rebecca Robinson, Stacy Silker, Mike Winter, J.T. Thomas and Darren Brodie. Back row: Liz Mastromatteo, Gregory Hallock, Betty Sue Miller, Scott Robinson and Jeffrey Pasnik. Missing from photo: Walt Breese, Justin Robinson, Brad Pritchard and Deborah Schiavone.

LYNDONVILLE – The seventh class of Leadership Orleans has completed the year-long program where 27 people learned about different sectors of the county each month.

The new class of graduates brings the total to 176 who have completed the program in its seven years.

Skip Helfrich, the program’s director since it started in 2018, commended the class for committing to learn about themselves and the local community.

“We are making people more aware of what this county is all about,” he said during the graduation program on Thursday evening at the White Birch Golf Course.

Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson addressed the group, and said their talents and commitment to the community are needed in Orleans County.

The county needs more people to serve on boards, in elected positions, as coaches and other leadership roles, she said.

Many are deterred because of the time commitment, the workload and the criticism that comes from being in a leadership position, she said.

“Our community thrives when the best and the brightest – and that includes all of you – are actively engaged, sharing ideas, challenging each other in constructive ways and ultimately offering solutions that move our community forward,” Johnson said.

The graduates include:

• Tina Bell, office manager for Art Hill Excavating in Medina
• Lisa Bors, public relations director for Arc GLOW
• Walt Breese, president of Subway in Albion
• Darren Brodie, environmental health director for Genesee & Orleans County Health Departments
• Melinda Daniels, executive assistant for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
• Reita Fletcher, branch manager of M&T Bank in Lyndonville
• Gregory Hallock, executive director of Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!)
• Courtney Henderson, owner of Babe Cave Inc. in Albion
• Barbara Koert, assistant director of UConnectCare (formerly GCASA) in Albion
• Liz Mastromatteo, coordinator/assistant principal of Orleans/Niagara BOCES in Medina
• Betty Sue Miller, director of Hoag Library in Albion
• Jeffrey Pasnik, council rep for North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters in Cheektowaga
• Brad Pritchard, principal of Albion Middle School
• Melinda Rhim, coordinator of care management for Orleans County Mental Health Department
• Marsha Rivers, pastor of First Baptist Church in Albion
• Becky Robinson, partner with The Vintage Cigar in Medina
• June Robinson, associate director of quality at Baxter Healthcare in Medina
• Justin Robinson, dairy farmer with Poverty Hill Farms in Albion
• Scott Robinson, director of marketing for Orleans Community Health
• Pam Rounds, supervisor at Baxter Healthcare in Medina
• Debbie Schiavone, payroll administrator for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
• Stacy Silker, court clerk for Town of Ridgeway and Town of Yates
• Tiffany Smith, assistant chief of nursing for Rochester Regional Health
• Lisa Stenshorn, clerk of the Orleans County Legislature
• JT Thomas, operations director at Iroquois Job Corps in Medina
• Linda Weller of Albion, president of Info Advantage Inc. in Rochester
• Mike Winter, controller for Western New York Energy in Medina

Melinda Daniels, executive assistant for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, is congratulated for completing the Leadership Orleans program. She received a certificate from the New York State Assembly and a Special Recognition Award from the Orleans County Legislature. The people offering congratulations include County Legislator Skip Draper; Eileen Banker, Assemblyman Steve Hawley’s chief of staff; Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson; Jackie Dunham, member of Leadership Orleans steering committee; and Kelly Kiebala, chairwoman of the steering committee.

The program aims to build the “citizen capital” of the community, helping develop leaders who are educated on the many facets of the community.

The class in the opening retreat did many ice-breaker activities to get to know each other. They also learned about their individual strengths and weaknesses, their personality types and how that shapes their decision-making and tendencies.

The class then met monthly, building leadership skills and gaining knowledge, experiences and meeting people from many different sectors in the community, from agriculture, non-profit organizations, government services, small and larger businesses, tourism, arts and culture, community health and economic development. Next year the program will add a day focused on law enforcement.

The program receives a stipend from the county, and there are many sponsors of programs throughout the years. The class members also pay tuition to be in Leadership Orleans.

Photo by Marsha Rivers: Michelle Kingdollar, chief financial officer for Western New York Energy and a Leadership Orleans graduate, leads a tour of the ethanol plant in March. WNY Energy won the “First Impression Award” among the host sites in the past year. Leadership Orleans visited 34 sites in the past year.

Bill Lattin, retired as Orleans County historian and director of the Cobblestone Museum, won the award as “Presenter of the Year.” He was called a master storyteller and a “local legend.” He was among 53 presenters for the program in 2024.

Lattin shared a famous quote from Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

And he shared a quote from Robert G. Ingersoll: “Life is a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two eternities. We strive in vain to look beyond the heights. We cry aloud, and the only answer is the echo of our wailing cry.”

Lattin said we are all given a short time on Earth to make a difference. We need leaders with talent and vision to serve the community.

Susan Howard, a graduate from the 2022 Leadership Orleans program, was named “Alumnus of the Year.” Howard, the county’s first assistant district attorney, was elected district attorney in November and starts on Jan. 1, replacing Joe Cardone who is retiring. Howard said the program helped convince her to step up her involvement in the community and to seek being the DA, the county’s top prosecutor.

Linda Weller, president of Hoag Library and president of Info Advantage Inc., is hugged by Kelly Kiebala. Weller has lived in Orleans County for nearly 40 years. She learned many new things about the county, including its status as a “fishing mecca” drawing thousands of fishermen each year, especially for the fall tributary season.

Weller she was inspired by many of the presenters throughout the year who shared a passion for their careers.

“I learned so much about our county and the resources that we have here,” she said. “So many people are doing the best they can for our community.”

Tiffany Smith, assistant chief of nursing for Rochester Regional Health, completed the year-long Leadership Orleans.

Scott Robinson, director of marketing for Orleans Community Health, is commended for his participation in the program.

Betty Sue Miller, director of Hoag Library, was picked by the class to share reflections on the past year for the group. She said the class all learned about themselves, each other and opportunities and challenges in the county.

Miller said people bring different backgrounds, different personalities, and different ways of learning.

“As leaders, we can’t pigeon-hole our employees or volunteers,” she said.

Miller said she is the oldest person in the class this year. She learned more about the community, and saw passion from people who are often overlooked.

She highlighted a tour of the Albion sewer plant, led by chief operator Aric Albright. He has worked there for 30 years.

“It was just amazing,” she said about the tour of the plant on Densmore Road in Albion. “Aric, there is a man who loves his job.”

JT Thomas, operations director at the Iroquois Job Corps, accepts his certificates for completing the program.

Thomas was pleased to meet people from many different employment backgrounds in the class.

He feels more pride in the county after completing the program.

“I’ve always loved Orleans County but now I have a better understanding of it,” he said.

Slowing sales tax growth, rising mandate costs strain the budget

ALBION – Orleans County legislators unanimously passed the 2025 county budget on Tuesday.

The budget represents $99,092,747 in total spending, a 7.1 percent increase that raises taxes by 1.95 percent.

Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer and also the budget officer, said nine mandated programs are seeing a $2,003,938 increase in 2025 or a 10.5 percent jump to $21,060,228. That exceeds the county’s total tax levy of $19,639,000.

The “9 for 90” mandated programs used to consume 90 percent of the tax levy, but next year will be 107 percent.

Those mandates include:

• Medicaid, $8,845,064 – up 1.7%
• Public Assistance/ Safety Net, $2,974,100 – up 27.6%
• Child Welfare/Protection $2,259,557 – 2.9%
• Special Education, $1,006,696 – up 1.6%
• Indigent Defense, $749,690 – 6.9%
• Probation – $694,581, down 10.9%
• Mental Health – Law Expense § 730.30 (competency exams), $500,000 – up 1,000%
• Early Intervention, $318,681 – up 15.3%
• Pension, $3,711,859 – up 22.0%

Total: $21,060,228, or  $2,003,938 over 2024 budget

Another big expense for the county, health insurance, will see a 19.8 percent increase to $7.7 million.

“The true challenge of this expense is that nearly 24 percent of this cost is for one drug,” Welch said in his budget message. “As an experience-rated group, orphan drug expenses play a significant role in the calculation of health insurance premium rates by all health insurance companies.”

The budget increases the tax levy by $375,000 from the $19,264,000 for 2024. That increase keeps the county under the tax cap, Welch said.

The tax rate will drop by 66 cents per $1,000 of assessed property to $7.91 due to growth in the tax base through reassessments. Not all the towns pay the same tax rate because not all have completed recent town-wide reassessments to put them at full values. Towns that are considered under value by the state will pay higher tax rates to be determined just before the tax bills go out in January.

Sales tax helps offset property taxes, and sales tax has been rising significantly in recent years. However, this year it was $900,000 below the amount in 2023 for the first six months, but then saw an $800,000 jump in the third quarter.

“Accrued sales tax collections year-to-date are still below 2023,” Welch said. “This is the first time since 2016 we have experienced this. Residents have shifted their spending from taxable sales to sales that do not have a sales tax connected to essential goods like food and rent.”

Welch said the recent increase in sales tax has been consumed by state mandates which include the increased costs for the homeless crisis and the Mental Health Law expense Section 730.30 – competency exams to determine a defendant’s competency. The county has experienced big increases in homeless placements the past 30 months for temporary and emergency housing, Welch said.

The budget includes $10,925,755 in a capital plan for projects and equipment upgrades.

That includes the following departments:

Highway – $8,132,479

Peter Bilt 10-wheeler, $260,000; Rollers, $200,000; local bridge and culvert repairs, $200,000; two pickup trucks on lease, $22,104; Upper Holley and South Holley Road replace and overlay, $460,000; patch and seal county roads, $200,000; highway reconstruction, $2,464,280; Eagle Harbor Road culvert replacement design, $170,000; Eagle Harbor Road culvert replacement, $759,625; Gillette Road bridge replacement design, $289,270; bridge preventive maintenance, $1,809,300; Route 279 bridge replacement, $1,136,900; Lakeshore Road bridge design, $161,000.

Buildings and Grounds – $1,410,000

Public Safety Roof, $1,200,000; sewer lateral lining, $150,000; Mental Health and Clerk’s buildings, $50,000; Animal Control roof, $10,000.

Information Technology Services – $70,000

Firewall replacement, $70,000.

Sheriff’s Office – $1,313,276

Dispatcher Stations upgrade, $810,000; jail repairs, $200,000; Jail vests, $13,000; Axon Tasers lease in jail, $6,000; animal control leased truck, $15,000; fleet maintenance program 2022, $66,493; fleet maintenance program 2024, $52,958; fleet maintenance program 2025, $106,000; Tasers lease from 2024 to 2028, $43,825.

The county budget includes 445 full-time, 107 part-time and 163 seasonal positions across numerous programs and services. This is a decrease of 4 full-time positions and an increase of 10 part-time positions compared to 2024.

The county has struggled to fill some positions in the government. With that reality, plus the rise in costs for employee benefits, the county has begun changing the work week for employees from 35 hours per week to 37.5 hours per week – with a goal of 40 hours per week rather than hiring additional employees, Welch said.

The annual fee for solid waste and recycling service will increase $5 to $225. This fee will continue to support the e-waste collection efforts for county residents at three sites across Orleans County.

BATAVIA – The Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming Workforce Development Board will honor businesses and agencies in the four counties during its annual meeting on Dec. 13.

That meeting starts at 7:30 a.m. and goes until 9 a.m. at the Terry Hills Restaurant in Batavia. The GLOW WDB will present awards to the following businesses or agencies

• Geib Estates Corp. in Genesee County
• Coast Professional, Inc. in Livingston County
• P.Raising Kids in Orleans County
• Beaver Hollow Conference Center in Wyoming County

The Workforce Development Board also will honor a participant and youth from each county for their success with employment. The WDB also will go over its annual report.

The public is welcome to attend the meeting. For more information, call Jay Lazarony, GLOW WDB executive director, at (585) 344-2042 ext. 4212.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A fiberglass ox painted by artist Stacey Kirby Steward is pulled on a trailer during Medina’s Parade of Lights on Saturday.

The ox includes an agricultural theme on one side and a tribute to the Orleans County 4-H Fair on the other side. It makes its home at the Fairgrounds.

The Orleans County Bicentennial Committee spearheaded the project with the Cornell Cooperative Extension.

The Bicentennial Committee would like to see more of the oxen painted for the county’s 200^th anniversary in 2025.

There will be an informational meeting for the public to hear more about how to get an ox as part of the bicentennial celebration. That meeting will be at noon on Jan. 25 at Hoag Library in Albion.

Saturday’s parade also included the debut of an ox costume created by Robyn Watts. Lucy Rivers wore the costume during the parade. She is shown here with the ox statue at the staging area before the parade at the Olde Pickle Factory in Medina.

The ox walks the parade route on Main Street. The costume includes a vest with the names of the 10 towns, four villages, five school districts and some of the hamlets.

Some of the Bicentennial Committee members and volunteers work on getting the float ready on Friday at the fairgrounds. Lynne Menz designed the float.

The ox on the float is expected to make more appearances at local parades and community events to help the county celebrate its 200^th anniversary in 2025.

(Editor’s Note: Orleans Hub editor Tom Rivers is a member of the Bicentennial Committee.)

Provided photo

ALBION – Nikolas Mroz and Nancy Traxler of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency are presented with a $1,000 check from Scott Carlton, squadron commander of the Sons of the American Legion in Medina. The donation goes toward the van service that takes veterans to medical appointments.

“The Sons salute the Joint Veterans Council, it’s staff and volunteers for providing veterans an indispensable means of access to needed medical care,” Carlton said. “We’re proud to continue funding this program as part of our advocacy for veterans.”

This is the 13th donation Squadron 204 has given, totaling $6,600.

The Sons of the American Legion was founded in 1932 as an organization within The American Legion, dedicated to preserving American traditions and values, improving the quality of life for our nation’s children, caring for veterans and their families, and teaching the fundamentals of good citizenship.

All male descendants, adopted sons, and stepsons of members of The American Legion, and such male descendants of veterans who died in service during the period of April 6, 1917, through Nov. 11, 1918, or any time from Dec. 7, 1941, to date, who served honorably, or who died subsequent to their honorable discharge from such service, are eligible for membership in the Sons of The American Legion.

Provided photo: Katie Harvey, left, the county’s director of personnel, presents the “Employee of the Year” award to Danielle Figura, the county’s mental health director.

ALBION – Danielle Figura, the county’s director of the Mental Health Department, was named the “Employee of the Year” during an awards program last week.

The county recognized the employees of the month from October 2023 to September 2024. From that pool the employee of the year was chosen by a separate committee.

Figura, a county employee since 2014, was praised for “strengthening the presence of mental health services in Orleans County for all residents.”

She has mental health personnel working from all five public school districts in the county. Figura also expanded walk-in counseling appointments at the Mental Health building in Albion, allowing for increased access for services at a time when mental health services are a critical need all over the country, said Katie Harvey, the county’s director of personnel and self insurance.

Figura also leads a staff that responds to a local crisis offering grief counseling for students and staff at schools or for firefighters and other first responders.

“As a member of the Orleans County community she can respond timely to numerous other local incidents and crisis situations that our first responders have had to respond to,” Harvey said. “Her attention to the need for mental health services for first responders both as a coordinator for services and a counselor are critical to our ability to have a vibrant, healthy first responder service for our residents in a rural county.”

The EAP Committee at the county is tasked to recognize employees of the month.

“This is a very important and a very special occasion when fellow county employees are recognized for not only their service to the citizens of the county but to recognize those individuals who go above and beyond their duty,” Harvey said. “The EAP Committee receives nominations from fellow employees and department directors and then the nominations are reviewed and discussed by the committee and a selection is made.

The employees of the month for the past year include:

• October 2023 – Kailyn Dellinger (Planning & Development)
• November 2023 – Sharolyn Wallis (Public Works)
• December 2023 – Carie Doty (Public Health)
• January 2024 – Brandy Tooley (Social Services)
• February 2024 – Kelley Ortiz (Social Services)
• March 2024 – Kathy Fantasia (Social Services)
• April 2024 – Dana Goetze (Sheriff) & Danielle Figura (Mental Health)
• May 2024 – Michael Schultz & Leigha Collins (Dispatch)
• June 2024 – Jack Finley (IT Services)
• July 2024 – Jennifer Hammons (Social Services)
• August 2024 – Elizabeth Milazzo (Social Services)
• September 2024 – James Houseman (Animal Control)

ALBION – The tentative Orleans County budget for 2025 increases funding one agency while others stay at the same level.

The tentative budget includes $99,092,747 in spending, a 7.1 percent increase and would raise taxes by 1.95 percent.

The county allocates some funding to different agencies that provide services in the community.

Only the Soil & Water Conservation District was given an increase, from $97,500 to a proposed $100,500.

Jack Welch, the county chief administrative officer and budget officer, said Soil & Water has been working with more property owners who have experienced flooding damage and need help from Soil & Water with drainage issues.

The agency requested the additional $3,000 and it was approved in the tentative budget.

The Legislature will have a public hearing at 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 for the budget, with the Legislature to vote in a meeting following the hearing in the legislative chambers of the County Office Building.

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!) and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County both sought increases but have been kept at the same level as 2024.

GO Art! sought $6,000 but stays at $4,000 in the budget, while the Cooperative Extension asked for $250,000, but was kept at $240,000. That is where the county funding for the Extension has stayed since 2017.

The Extension last year requested an increase to $275,000. This time the organization tried for a more modest hike of $10,000 but again is in the budget at $240,000.

The four public libraries collectively asked for $1 per resident or $40,343 to reflect the county’s population in the 2020 Census. But the libraries remain $10,087 in the budget, the amount since 2011. (The county was giving $29,914 to be shared among the four libraries as recently as 2002, but that dropped to $7,480 in 2003. Since then, the amount was raised to $12,587 in 2007, $13,617 in 2010, and then was cut to $10,087 in 2011.)

Two other agencies stay the same and didn’t request more money: the Orleans Economic Development Agency at $200,000 and Mercy Flight at $5,000. The Orleans EDA was boosted to $200,000 in 2024 after getting $190,000 in 2023.

One of the funded agencies in 2024 was dropped from $3,000 to zero in the tentative budget. The Cobblestone Museum was given the $3,000 in 2024 after not being in the budget. Welch said the museum didn’t submit a formal written request for funding for 2025. The museum expects to break ground on a new visitor’s center in 2025.

The Sportsmen’s Federation used to be in the county budget and typically received $1,000 a year through 2023. It was dropped to $0 in 2024 and isn’t allocated any funding for 2025 in the tentative budget.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Joyce McNutt, the Orleans County commissioner of jurors, accepts a proclamation from County Legislator Fred Miller on Tuesday declaring November as Juror Appreciation Month.

McNutt said jurors are needed in trials at the local and county courts, and also for the grand jury.

The proclamation from the Legislature states, “The right to a trial by jury is one of the core values of American citizenship and the obligation and privilege to serve as a juror are as fundamental to our democracy as the right to vote.”

The Legislature said it appreciates the services of Orleans County residents “who annually give their time and talents to serve on juries whether it be in person or on telephone standby.”

Press Release, Orleans County Youth Board

ALBION – The Orleans County Youth Board today said organizations seeking funding for youth services programs and projects must have their applications submitted to the county by Dec. 10.

Applications are for programs and projects in Orleans County that take place between Oct. 1 and Sept. 30, 2025.

Kelly Kiebala, Orleans County Youth Bureau Administrator, said there are three different funding categories, the Youth Development Program (YDP), Youth Teams Sports (YTS), and Youth Sports & Education Opportunity Funding (YSEOF).

There are separate applications and the required documents for each funding source can be found on the Youth Bureau website (click here).

“The Youth Board encourages all youth organizations to download the applications and understand the different requirements for each grant,” Kiebala said.  “Organizations should apply for the funding that best suits their programs and maximizes their funding opportunities. We appreciate the important work these groups do in serving our youth and want to be sure they do not miss the deadline for funding.”

Those with questions about the application and funding programs should email the Youth Bureau at OrleansCountyYouthBureau@OrleanscountyNY.gov.

ALBION – Orleans County officials have put together a tentative $99,092,747 budget that represents a 7.1 percent spending increase and would raise taxes by 1.95 percent.

Jack Welch

The additional $375,000  in the tax levy from the $19,264,000 for 2024 stays under the tax cap, said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer. The tax rate will drop by 66 cents per $1,000 of assessed property to $7.91 due to growth in the tax base through reassessments.

Welch filed the tentative budget on Friday, the deadline to submit the tentative plan. There will be a public hearing at 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 for the budget, with the Legislature to vote in a meeting following the hearing in the legislative chambers of the County Office Building.

Welch, in a budget message, said the fiscal plan faces many financial pressures and uncertainties.

“This year’s $99 million budget recommendation is influenced by VUCA: volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity once again,” he said.

Mandated costs are on the rise, including the “9 for 90 Mandates.” Nine mandated programs used to consume 90 percent of the county’s tax ley. In 2024, it was up to 98.9 percent. But the 2025 budget has the mandates totaling $21,060,228 or 107.4 percent of the tax levy, Welch said. The mandated programs’ cost is up by 10.5 percent.

One of those mandates, health insurance costs, are up 19.8 percent to $7.7 million.

“The true challenge of this expense is that nearly 24 percent of this cost is for one drug,” Welch said in his budget message. “As an experience-rated group, orphan drug expenses play a significant role in the calculation of health insurance premium rates by all health insurance companies.”

The costs for retirement are up 22 percent over the 2024 budgeted expense for the pension contributions.

“The retirement increase is related to the increase in benefits for Tier 6 and the comptroller’s need to increase revenue since more employees are retiring from the workforce statewide,” Welch said.

Sales tax helps offset property taxes, and sales tax has been rising significantly in recent years. However, this year it was $900,000 below the amount in 2023 for the first six months, but then saw an $800,000 jump in the third quarter, Welch said.

“Accrued sales tax collections year-to-date are still below 2023,” he said. “This is the first time since 2016 we have experienced this. Residents have shifted their spending from taxable sales to sales that do not have a sales tax connected to essential goods like food and rent.”

The county’s Capital Plan includes $10,925,755 in projects and equipment upgrades.

That includes the following departments:

Highway – $8,132,479

Peter Bilt 10-wheeler, $260,000; Rollers, $200,000; local bridge and culvert repairs, $200,000; two pickup trucks on lease, $22,104; Upper Holley and South Holley Road replace and overlay, $460,000; patch and seal county roads, $200,000; highway reconstruction, $2,464,280; Eagle Harbor Road culvert replacement design, $170,000; Eagle Harbor Road culvert replacement, $759,625; Gillette Road bridge replacement design, $289,270; bridge preventive maintenance, $1,809,300; Route 279 bridge replacement, $1,136,900; Lakeshore Road bridge design, $161,000.

Buildings and Grounds – $1,410,000

Public Safety Roof, $1,200,000; sewer lateral lining, $150,000; Mental Health and Clerk’s buildings, $50,000; Animal Control roof, $10,000.

Information Technology Services – $70,000

Firewall replacement, $70,000.

Sheriff’s Office – $1,313,276

Dispatcher Stations upgrade, $810,000; jail repairs, $200,000; Jail vests, $13,000; Axon Tasers lease in jail, $6,000; animal control leased truck, $15,000; fleet maintenance program 2022, $66,493; fleet maintenance program 2024, $52,958; fleet maintenance program 2025, $106,000; Tasers lease from 2024 to 2028, $43,825.

Welch said the county has experienced big increases in homeless placements the past 30 months for temporary and emergency housing.

“Our total monthly placements are up over 190% when compared to July 2022 with our in-county placements up 116% and our out-of-county placements up over 600% as of October 2024,” Welch said.

The county budget includes 445 full-time, 107 part-time and 163 seasonal positions across numerous programs and services. This is a decrease of 4 full-time positions and an increase of 10 part-time positions compared to 2024.

The county has struggled to fill some positions in the government. With that reality, plus the rise in costs for employee benefits, the county has begun changing the work week for employees from 35 hours per week to 37.5 hours per week – with a goal of 40 hours per week rather than hiring additional employees, Welch said.

The annual fee for solid waste and recycling service will increase $5 to $225. This fee will continue to support the e-waste collection efforts for county residents at three sites across Orleans County, Welch said.

“The program remains very popular, with high demand for the disposal of CRT monitors and televisions,” he said. “The county is also planning to continue to offer the Household Hazardous Waste pick up annually, which includes residential tires.”

To see more on the tentative budget, click here.