The unemployment rate for December 2015 in Orleans County was much better than December in the previous year, the state Department of Labor is reporting.

The county’s unemployment rate was 5.9 percent last month, compared to 7.2 percent in December 2014. The DOL data shows 17,100 people were working in Orleans last month, compared to 16,500 in December 2014. There were 2,400 unemployed in the county last month, compared to 2,700 a year earlier.

State-wide the unemployment rate was 4.8 percent last month, the lowest level since November 2007.

In Orleans County, the rate actually went up last month compared to November 2015 when the rate was 5.5 percent.

Tompkins County has the lowest December unemployment rate in the state at 3.4 percent while Hamilton County, at 8.9 percent, is the highest.

Here are the unemployment rates for other nearby counties: Niagara, 5.8; Wyoming, 5.5; Monroe, 4.5; Livingston, 4.8; Genesee, 4.8; and Erie, 4.7.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Main Street is pictured in downtown Albion in October 2015.

One measure of the local economy – sales tax revenue – showed Orleans County and much of Upstate New York lagged in 2015 compared to 2014.

The sales tax collections in Orleans dipped 1.5 percent or down $233,412, from $15,703,362 in 2014 to $15,469,950 last year, according to the state Department of Taxation and Finance.

Not only does that show a decline in the local economy, but it means less money for the county government for services and to ease pressure on property taxes. (The county has budgeted a $250,000 increase in 2016 from the 2015 budgeted amount.)

Other smaller nearby counties also saw a decline. Genesee County was down 0.12 percent or by $47,206. Its sales tax receipts dropped from $37,994,929 to $37,947,723.

Wyoming County, which has nearly the same population as Orleans, declined 1.56 percent, from $16,853,447 to $16,591,138, a decrease of $262,309.

There are 62 counties in the state and 30 experienced negative growth in sales tax receipts in 2015, according to the New York State Association of Counties.

“According to NYSAC’s analysis, it is not clear whether these lower receipts are related to a lackluster economic growth, lower motor fuel and energy prices, minimal wage growth, household deleveraging (debt reduction vs. spending) or some combination of factors,” NYSAC said in a news release.

Overall, the counties combined saw sales tax increase 0.7 percent from $7.369 billion to $7.418 billion.

While upstate sales tax numbers were sluggish, New York City saw big growth, 7.3 percent, from $6.653 billion to $7.140 billion. State-wide, total sales tax was up 3.0 percent from $27.536 billion to $28.366 billion.

YATES – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley today issued a statement that he is opposed to the proposed Lighthouse Wind, a project that could include up to 71 wind turbines in Yates and Somerset.

State Sen. Rob Ortt and Congressman Chris Collins also have opposed the project, and the Yates Town Board, Somerset Town Board, and Legislatures at Niagara, Orleans and Erie counties have all passed formal resolutions against the project.

The Yates Town Board went on the record Jan. 14, opposing the project by Apex Clean Energy.

“I will stand with the Town of Yates’ decision in opposition to the Apex Clean Energy Lighthouse, LLC project,” Hawley said in a statement this morning. “The town’s recently passed resolution is a perfect example of local government having complete autonomy over local issues. Local residents, leaders and elected officials know what’s best for their particular municipality, and I believe that is a cornerstone of good government. I have always been a strong advocate for local control and will support the Town of Yates in its decision.”

A siting board that will include five state officials and two representatives from the project area will review the proposal and have the final say. Many of the local officials have opposed the Article 10 process for siting the project, with a local board and zoning not being the ultimate factor in siting the project.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Orleans County Legislator Lynne Johnson speaks during Friday’s Legislative Luncheon at Tillman’s Village Inn.

GAINES – Orleans County government leaders are tackling infrastructure projects, streamlining departments, and partnering with neighboring counties for some services in a push to reduce costs to taxpayers.

“The county is witnessing a complete transformation of county government over the last decade,” Lynne Johnson, Orleans County Legislature vice chairwoman, told about 100 people Friday during the Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Luncheon.

The county has reduced the number of employees on the government payroll by 124 full-time and 69 part-time since 2011, with the sale of The Villages of Orleans, the county nursing home, accounting for many of those.

The sale of the nursing home, shared services among local governments and other staff reductions are part of $10.5 million identified in taxpayer savings the past three years, Johnson told the Chamber crowd.

Johnson said the workforce is leaner, and is working faster and smarter, utilizing more technology.

“The business of county government has gotten increasingly complicated over the last decade and we strive to hire good, smart, creative leaders to face those challenges,” she said.

Orleans has become a leader in the state with its “unprecedented” collaborations with other counties, she said, citing shared public health services, tax mapping, Stop DWI and the youth bureau with Genesee County. Orleans also is partnering with Niagara County in a push for high-speed Internet in rural underserved areas.

Johnson highlighted investments in new emergency communications for first responders, $8 million in capital projects with new roofs, bridges and culverts. The county also staved off pressure from the state for a new jail by spending $1 million in the current building, making it meet state standards.

County officials are pressing state leaders to better maintain state-owned bridges and roads in the county, she said, and the federal government also hears from Orleans on the importance of dredging the Oak Orchard Harbor for boaters to support the county’s tourism industry.

Johnson praised the efforts of the Orleans Economic Development Agency for recruiting Pride Pak, a Canadian company, to spend $12.5 million for a new vegetable processing plant in Medina. Pride Pak is expected to have 40 employees in its first year, another 40 the second year and would reach about 200 at full capacity.

The EDA also has worked for “shovel ready” sites in Medina and Shelby that have access to infrastructure. Johnson said a new hotel could commit soon to the county, and the EDA secured a $600,000 state grant for a “spec” building that will make it faster for a developer to be in business in Orleans County.

She also cited efforts by the county’s Mental Health Department to develop satellite offices at school districts and expand same-day, walk-in services at the county clinic.

Unfunded mandates, crime and community development remain challenges, but Johnson said the county is “better positioned than ever to make a difference.”

ALBION – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has a new Facebook page as part of effort to better reach out to the public, said Sheriff Randy Bower.

The new page went live on Friday. It has more than 500 “friends.”

Bower said the page will have regular updates from the Sheriff’s Office, including safety classes and other information. There is a contact form on the page for businesses to provide current contact information.

Bower has visited and called many businesses since taking office on Jan. 1. The Sheriff’s Office wants up-to-date information from businesses in case a door is left unlocked after hours or if there is an emergency and the business owner needs to be contacted, Bower said.

For see the Facebook page, click here.

Photos by Tom Rivers – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley says raising the minimum wage to $15, after recently hiking it from $7.25 to $9, would be “ludicrous” and damaging to the economy.

GAINES – The governor’s push to raise the minimum wage to $15 dominated the discussion at the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Luncheon on Friday.

The governor would like to implement the higher wage for New York City by 2018 and then the rest of the state by 2021.

Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul attended the luncheon and she said the higher wage would lift people out of poverty and put $15 billion more into the economy.

She said the state is offering $300 million in tax credits to help offset some of their costs with the higher minimum wage.

But that isn’t a good trade for businesses, having to spend $15 billion more to get $300 million back, said Ken Pokalsky, vice president of The Business Council of New York State.

Ken Pokalsky, vice president of The Business Council of New York State

Pokalsky said New York City could better absorb the increase. The city has experienced 14 percent job growth since 2000. However, Pokalsky said upstate has only had 2 percent job growth since 2000 and Orleans County has declined by 10 percent with jobs.

“It is a very soft labor market,” he said during the Legislative Luncheon attended by about 100 people at Tillman’s Village Inn.

The state just raised the minimum wage to $9. It was $7.25 three years ago, but would more than double from $7.25 with the governor’s push.

“This is a huge problem,” Pokalsky said. “It’s an issue of real concern to us.”

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley said a $15 minimum wage would force businesses to eliminate positions and not hire people looking for work.

“The real minimum wage is $0,” he said. “It’s a ludicrous proposal.”

Hawley, owner of an insurance company, said the higher minimum would force him and other people, who pay well above the current minimum wage, to also raise their pay. Hawley said the governor should let the market dictate salaries.

“It’s absolutely un-American,” he said.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul stopped by the Legislative Luncheon for the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce on Friday at Tillman’s Village Inn.

GAINES – New York State is making billions of dollars available for upstate infrastructure and economic development, bringing attention to a part of the state that had been largely neglected by state officials for many years, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said at an Orleans County Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Friday.

The governor’s proposed budget includes a multi-year plan with $22 billion for upstate roads and bridges, another $750 million for economic development through the regional economic development councils, and a cap on Thruway tolls until at least 2020, with tolls eliminated for agriculture vehicles.

Hochul said Cuomo’s efforts in his five years as governor are paying off with a shrinking unemployment rate and rising job numbers. She said the unemployment rate in Orleans is down from about 9 percent to 5 percent with Cuomo as governor.

“The governor has done an amazing job,” Hochul told about 100 people at the Legislative Luncheon at Tillman’s Village Inn. “He has been making up for years of neglect.”

Orleans County has received some of the funding through the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council. Municipalities, businesses and organizations apply for the funds, with the council directing dollars to projects that will create and retain jobs.

Albion and Holley have both received grants through the NY Main Street program, and Medina was just approved for that grant.

The latest announcement in December included $600,000 to the Orleans Economic Development Agency for a new building in the Medina Business Park; $335,000 in a Main Street NY grant for Medina; $220,000 grant for Bent’s Opera House stabilization, facade improvements, asbestos abatement and interior renovations at the three-story building in Medina; $200,000 to the Orleans EDA for microenterprise support; $126,210 for the chapel restoration at Hillside Cemetery in Holley; $40,000 for the Kendall-Yates-Carlton Local Waterfront Revitalization Program; $36,000 to Orleans County for a law enforcement shared service and efficiency study.

The state also approved $1.5 billion in an Upstate Revitalization Initiative with three regions getting $500 million. Orleans County is in the Finger Lakes region which was awarded $500 million last month.

Hochul said the funds will create many economic development opportunities for businesses and communities.

“The $500 million is a once-in-a-lifetime grant,” Hochul said.

She likes the governor’s approach, where regions need to develop plans for economic growth.

“The old way there was a pot of money that went to those who were politically connected,” she said.

She highlighted other parts of the 2016-17 proposed budget from the governor:

An increase in the Environmental Protection Fund from $177 million to $300 million;

An overall state budget that limits the budget to an increase of 1.7 percent;

$250 million in support for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the state, predominantly in upstate;

$500 million to dramatically expand and improve access to high-speed Internet in communities statewide;

$200 million to revitalize upstate airports;

$100 million for downtown revitalization, funds that would be available to villages and not just cities, Hochul said.

“It’s ambitious,” she said about the governor’s budget. “The governor views no challenge is too great. He’s not afraid to challenge the status quo.”

Hochul arrived at 1:30 p.m. for the Legislative Luncheon and went through a PowerPoint presentation on the governor’s budget. She missed comments from State Sen. Robert Ortt and State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, who said the governor and state Legislature need to direct more dollars to upstate projects and communities.

Hawley said many of the big projects announced in the governor’s budget were directed at New York City, including a new airport to replace LaGuardia, a $3 billion transformation of Penn Station, and a redeveloped Javits Convention Center at an estimated $1 billion.

“Pieces get thrown out all the time by downstaters,” Hawley said. “But the bridges on the canal, where’s the money? The Lake Ontario State Parkway, where’s the money?”

File photo by Tom Rivers – Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke at Hoag Library on Feb. 18, 2015, touting a $500 million plan to expand broadband Internet access throughout the state. The expanded broadband was part of the governor’s budget proposal and “Opportunity Agenda” a year ago.Hochul visited all 62 counties in the state last year.

GAINES – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce will have its annual “Legislative Luncheon” today, and is expected to be joined by New York’s lieutenant governor.

Kathy Hochul is scheduled to address the Chamber crowd at 1:30 at Tillman’s Village Inn. Hochul will be the highest-ranking state official to address the Legislative Luncheon, which goes back about 20 years.

Hochul plans to outline Gov. Cuomo’s 2016 State of the State Agenda. Hochul has been highlighting that plan in stops around the state.

She is a familiar face in Orleans County after representing the area in Congress until being defeated by Chris Collins.

The luncheon is also scheduled to include remarks from State Sen. Rob Ortt, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Orleans County Vice Chairwoman Lynne Johnson and a representative from the Business Council of New York State.

Photo by Tom Rivers – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is promoting Samantha Roskowski, left, from administrative assistant to executive director. She is pictured with Kathy Blackburn, the executive director the past three years. Blackburn will stay on with the Chamber as director of special projects, managing grants for the organization.

GAINES – The Orleans County Chamber of Commerce will have a new executive director on Feb. 1. Samantha Roskowski has already proven to be dedicated to the organization with an attention to detail and commitment to many programs, said the outgoing executive director, Kathy Blackburn.

Roskowski has been working as administrative assistant for the Chamber the past 2 ½ years. She has stepped up in many roles for the organization as its lone full-time employee.

“She has taken on one job after another,” Blackburn said after today’s Legislative Luncheon at Tillman’s Village Inn. Roskowski was the main organizer of the event, coordinating with elected officials, including staff for Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Blackburn was praised for leading the Chamber the past three years. It was supposed to be an interim assignment for about 6 months but Blackburn stayed, helping the Chamber administer a facade grant program for houses and businesses in Medina.

She will stay on as special projects director, managing that $100,000 grant program this year as well as a $335,000 NY Main Street grant awarded to downtown Medina for renovation of mixed-use buildings.

“The Chamber is a lot healthier now than when she came on as executive director,” Cindy Robinson, former board president, said about Blackburn.

The Chamber has about 200 members, and Roskowski said she wants to grow the membership to 250 to 300 members.

More members would give the Chamber more clout and resources to promote local businesses, and organize seminars and other special events on their behalf, Roskowski said.

Blackburn said the Chamber could also be stronger if the county government provided some funding and if it allowed the tourism department to work out of the Chamber.

“We would like to have tourism out of our office,” Blackburn. “We could work in conjunction. We are one of the few Chambers without government backing or tourism promotion.”

The Chamber’s next big event is the Home and Garden Show on April 16-17.

For more on the Chamber, click here.

PEMBROKE – The new National Cemetery in Pembroke will ensure veterans from Orleans County and Western New York have a fitting burial and well-maintained gravesite.

“Right now they have to drive to Bath for a National Cemetery,” said Earl Schmidt, the director of the Veterans Service Agency in Orleans County. “Now it will be within 15 minutes.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs acquired a 132-acre parcel at 1232 Indian Falls Road in 2014 for $625,000. The cemetery will have room for more than 96,000 veterans.

The VA will have a public meeting tonight to share information and solicit feedback on the cemetery. The meeting is scheduled in Batavia at the VA Medical Center from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Building #4.

Speakers will include Joshua M. de Leon, National Cemetery Administration; Glenn Madderom, Department of Veterans Affairs Cemetery Development and Improvement Service; and Mark Tillotson, Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Construction and Facilities Management.

VA officials will provide an update on the project and seek feedback on the master plan and design process.

Schmidt said he welcomes the cemetery to the area.

“A National Cemetery will always be maintained and veterans are honored everyday,” he said.

File photo by Tom Rivers – An Albion school bus makes a stop Tuesday afternoon on West State Street in the Village of Albion.

Local school districts would receive about $2.6 million more in operating aid in 2016-17, according to the governor’s budget presented last week.

Local school superintendents welcome the additional money, but they also said the state needs to do more in this era of tax caps to help districts provide a quality education without burdening local property taxpayers.

Here is a breakdown of the operating aid for local school districts:

Source: NYS Division of the Budget

The governor announced he would work to restore the Gap Elimination Adjustment, which was implemented during the state budget crisis in 2009. However, Cuomo said it would take two years to restore those funds, not all in the 2016-17 state budget.

High-needs and low-wealth districts have already had much of those funds restored. Medina and Albion are considered by the state to be low-wealth and much of their GEA funds have been restored. That’s why Albion is proposed to only receive $4,875 more in GEA money and Medina $11,537 in 2016-17.

However, three other districts in Orleans with higher wealth will see significantly more in 2016-17 in restored funds through Gap Elimination Adjustment. Holley would receive $141,247 more, Kendall would see an additional $117,348, and Lyndonville, $89,700.

“I am pleased that the Governor’s proposal includes full restoration of the GEA over a period of two years,” said Robert D’Angelo, Holley school district superintendent. “For Holley, that is approximately $284,000. The state aid runs show us receiving an increase of 7.8 percent in state aid. However, it is more attributed to expense driven aid such as transportation and BOCES than foundation aid which is proposed at an increase of 1.4 percent for Holley.”

D’Angelo said he would reach out to state legislators about more equity in foundation aid for school districts and elimination of some non-funded mandates “which place a financial burden on public school districts and that burden is further magnified by the tax cap restrictions as well as the small increase in foundation aid.”

Julie Christensen, Kendall school district superintendent, said the state still owes Kendall about 40 percent of the Gap Elimination Adjustment.

“In essence Kendall Schools will be receiving approximately the same amount of operational aid at we did in 2008-09 with this projection,” she said. “Overall, the state aid is better than years past, which is positive as the tax cap will be zero this year. However, the increase in minimum wage becomes problematic as that increases impacts our expenses without an increase in revenues.”

Kendall will get more in building aid as it begins to pay down the debt on its capital project.

“We saw an increase in expense-based aid, mostly BOCES aid,” Christensen said. “This was also expected as we purchased new technology and equipment with the initial phase of the project last year and will use this increase in aid to offset the remaining purchases required to complete the technology upgrade in the second phase of the project.”

Mike Bonnewell, the Albion school district superintendent, said the governor’s budget includes, for the first time, “Community Schools Aid.”

“Little information is out about this new program yet, but it does seem it is dedicated to new student and family support services,” Bonnewell said.

He noted that the tax cap, which was supposed to allow up to 2 percent in tax increases, could be very close to 0 percent for districts.

“This year, even more than past tax cap years, state aid and Albion Central’s continuing commitment to conservative budgeting decisions will be very important,” he said.

Medina also would receive $135,337 in Community Schools Aid, as part of the governor’s budget, said Jeff Evoy, Medina school superintendent.

“Being a new revenue source, we need to review how these funds can be allocated,” he said.

The district saw a sizable restoration in GEA funds in 2015-16, but would see far less in the new state budget.

“We were prepared for our Gap Elimination figure to be lower than other larger districts in WNY,” Evoy said. “The adjustment for MCSD for 16-17 is $11,537 compared to over $300,000 in 2015-16. The overall impact of our budget year to year is $260,900 or 1.7 percent.”

Jason Smith, the Lyndonville school superintendent, said restoring the Gap Elimination Adjustment “will allow schools like ours to explore ways to improve programming for students.”

Smith said he is pleased the governor didn’t bring up teacher evaluations and Common Core. “That is best left to State Ed and local districts to handle and negotiate,” Smith said.

He noted last year the governor “held hostage” state aid due to negotiations about teacher evaluations.

Timothy G. Kremer, executive director of the New York State School Boards Assocoation, said Cuomo’s budget “falls short” for school districts.

“Increasing funding for struggling schools, expanding prekindergarten programs, enhancing school safety and implementing the recommendations of the Common Core Task Force are all positive and sensible goals that lead us in the right direction,” Kremer said. “Unfortunately, the governor’s proposed state aid increase is much less than what schools need to maintain current programs and services – especially in the face of a zero percent tax cap – and will leave districts wanting as they attempt to implement these ambitious programs.”

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Photo by Kristina Gabalski

CLARENDON – After a wintry blast of snow on Sunday and Monday, it looks like January in Orleans County. Kristina Gabalski took this photo this morning of the waterfall in Clarendon on Route 237, just south of Route 31A.