203 have now completed program since 2018

Photos by Tom Rivers: Marcy Boyce, office manager for Arc GLOW in Albion, is congratulated for completing the 2025 Leadership Orleans program. She also received citations of commendation from the Orleans County Legislature, and offices of Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Sen. Rob Ortt. From include County legislator Skip Draper, representing Ortt; Jayleen Carney, Hawley’s chief of staff; and Lynne Johnson, County Legislature chairman.

LYNDONVILLE – The eighth class of Leadership Orleans has completing the year-long program, bringing the total grads to 203 since the program started in 2018.

The class met monthly, building leadership skills and gaining knowledge, experiences and connecting with people from many different sectors in the community. The class spent different days focused on agriculture, non-profit organizations, government services, small and larger businesses, law enforcement, tourism, arts and culture, community health and economic development.

The class visited 33 sites around the county and heard from 56 presenters.

The class voted Captain’s Cove in Waterport as their favorite place to visit. They were able to ride on pontoon boats and explore the Oak Orchard River.

Charlie Nesbitt, a retired state assemblyman and helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War, was voted as presenter of the year. Nesbitt is on the steering committee for Leadership Orleans and helped to launch the program.

He shared with the class about harrowing rides on the helicopter to save fellow American soldiers and children in Vietnam.

Kelly Kiebala holds a portrait of a child from Vietnam that Charlie Nesbitt was able to transport to safety by helicopter. Nesbitt, left, shared that story with the class when he was a presenter during the year. The class named him “Presenter of the Year” for his inspiring message. Kiebala and Nesbitt are both on the steering committee for Leadership Orleans.

Nesbitt served in Vietnam from May 1968 to May 1969. He awarded the “Distinguished Flying Cross” for his valor on Nov. 14, 1968when he and his crew members were told an American soldier was stranded in enemy territory in the jungles of Laos, across the border from Vietnam.

Another helicopter had been hit with a rocket and crashed. The crew needed to be rescued. Nesbitt flew a helicopter in and got out everyone, except one gunman, John Grimaldi, who was separated from his crew. That day he took the recovered crew members back to safety, and then returned to enemy territory to find Grimaldi.

Nesbitt told the class he is a big believer in Leadership Orleans. He was in a similar program as a young man after the Vietnam War. That program in Rochester “changed the direction in my life,” he said.

He said Leadership Orleans will have an impact on them in their work and family lives.

“If your life is better, all of our lives will be better,” he said during the graduation program on Dec. 11 at the White Birch in Lyndonville.

A new class with 26 members starts in January. Leadership Orleans also offers a “Level Up” program for graduates to continue to hone their leadership skills and build their network.

Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the County Legislature, thanked the class members for investing the time to learn about county and to better equip themselves to be forces for good.

Johnson urged them to keep maintaining the personal relationships they built over the past year.

“Never hesitate to engage with those who share different opinions,” Johnson said. “Welcome the discussion. Often times you will find there are more areas of agreement than you think.”

“Great leaders who build those personal connections will be followed – not because of a title or position – but because they are trusted. And that is true leadership.”

The program receives a stipend from the county, and there are 20 other community sponsors of programs throughout the year. The class members also pay tuition to be in Leadership Orleans.

Kathy Hodgins, chief executive officer of UConnectCare, was named Alumnus of the Year. Hodgins was in the inaugural class of 2018. She started 23 years ago with the agency, formerly known as GCASA. She began as a chemical dependency counselor in 2002 and worked her was up to becoming CEO.

The 27 members of the class representing several sectors in the community, including agriculture, education, human services, government, business and volunteerism

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

This year’s graduates include:

• Trisha Allen, project director for UConnectCare Behavioral Health Services in Albion
• Jami Allport, executive director of the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern
• Tyler Baker, technical resource manager for Lake Ontario Fruit in Albion
• Marissa Bell, social scientist for U.S. Department of Energy
• Marcy Boyce, office manager for Arc GLOW in Albion
• Candace Casey, coordinator of work-based learning at Iroquois Job Corps in Shelby
• Aeddon Cayea, deputy director of United Way of Orleans County
• Wendy Cruz, manager of Project Salus, a program of Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
• Jodi Fisher, program director for GO Art!
• Alishia Foss, resource specialist for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
• Randy Heslor, production supervisor for The Print Shop in Medina
• Tim Ingrassia, operational excellence manager for Baxter Healthcare
• Riki Lake, logistics/finance for CHPC in Medina
• Ryan Lasal, director of programming for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee
• Becky Manfreda, assistant superintendent of instruction for Albion Central School
• Kristine Mostyn, director of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina
• Amanda Nash, transportation director for Western New York Energy
• Kevin Neureuter Jr., director of IT for Orleans County
• Alana Palone, clinic administrator for Orleans Community Health
• Jillian Peracciny, public information assistant for Orleans/Niagara BOCES
• Abby Smith, literacy director for Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County
• Alyssa Thomas, clinic/SPOA coordinator for Orleans County Mental Health Clinic
• Quinton VerCruysee, equipment operations manager for Orchard Dale Fruit Company in Carlton
• Michael Weller, library assistant at Hoag Library in Albion
• Nick Wetherwax, senior director technical solutions at Info Advantage Inc. in Rochester
• Bryce Wilson, farmer with Panek Farms in Albion
• Corey Winters, director of Orleans County Department of Planning and Development

Nick Wetherwax (left), senior director of Technical Solutions, Info Advantage, Inc., and Riki Lake, Logistics/Finance for CHPC, were picked by the class to be the presenters and reflect on the year’s highlights. Lake won the award for winning the most points throughout the year for different competitions and activities.

Both said they learned so much about Orleans County and felt a strong bond with their classmates.

Wetherwax, 35, said he was particularly impressed visiting many of the local farmers and agricultural businesses to see how they are using technology and adapting.

Michael Weller, a library assistant at Hoag Library, is congratulated for completing the program. He is the seventh Hoag staff member to graduate from Leadership Orleans.

Weller, 36, said the year proved eye-opening. The tour of the ethanol plant in Medina was a highlight.

“It’s so big and so technical,” Weller said about Western New York Energy. “It was really cool to see.”

Jami Allport, executive director of the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, said she made strong connections with other class members, resulting in collaborations to serve the community.

She noted how her agency, GOMOC, has teamed with Community Action in some initiatives. She and Ryan Lasal, director of Programming for Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, are both in the class. They are also Albion graduates from the same era.

Allport said a tour of the county jail was a strong memory.

Lasal, 40, said he expects many in the class will continue to work together on projects serving the community.

“This has been a great opportunity to parter with other organizations in the county,” Lasal said.

Randy Heslor, production supervisor of the The Print Shop in Medina, was among the graduates.

Kristine Mostyn, director of Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina, walks up to accept her certificates for completing Leadership Orleans.

Amanda Nash, commodity & transportation manager for Western New York Energy, completed the year-long Leadership Orleans.

Provided photo

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Fred Miller last week presents a proclamation for “National Human Trafficking Prevention Month” to Holli Nenni, left, the commissioner of the Orleans County Department of Social Services; and Cyndi Stumer, the deputy commissioner of the DSS.

The prevention month will be observed in January. The Legislature in a proclamation said that every year, “countless adults and children are exploited by traffickers who prey on vulnerability, leaving lasting scars on victims, families, and communities.”

Combating human trafficking requires a united effort from government agencies, law enforcement, advocacy groups, educators, businesses, faith-based organizations, and all citizens, legislators said.

Legislators urged the community to recognize the signs of trafficking, report suspected cases, and “work together to build a safer, more just world where every individual lives free from exploitation.”

Provided photos

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature last week presented “Special Recognition Awards” to two people retiring from the Emergency Management Office.

County Legislator Skip Draper, right, presents the awards to Pat Eick, second from right, and Fran Gaylord, center.

Next to them are Justin Niederhofer (left), current EMO director; and Dale Banker, retired EMO director.

On this 16th day of December 2025, we do hereby acknowledge your retirement from Orleans County.

Eick worked 30 years as a secretary at the Emergency Management Office.

“Your outstanding organizational skills proved immeasurable when the county’s north shore was being overwhelmed by high water levels on Lake Ontario, during the Harris Radio System project upgrade, and your efforts to obtain the Fire Safety Trailer,” legislators stated in the award to Eick. “As EMO obtains funding through various grants, your ability to navigate those was impeccable.”

Eick worked with four EMO directors during her tenure.

Fran Gaylord, a past Holley fire chief, worked the past 25 years as a Deputy Fire Coordinator for the county.

“Your efforts were critical in establishing a daytime staffed engine one day a week to cover the east battalion (Engine 372),” legislators stated. “The EMS throughout Orleans County could count on you being at any major or minor incident, going above and beyond augmenting volunteer staffing and operating various apparatuses when needed on scene. Along with taking on the task of coordinating countless training at the battalion and county level.”

(Left) Fran Gaylord accepts his Special Recognition Award from Legislator Skip Draper. (Right) Pat Eick accepts her award for a 30-year career at the Emergency Management Office.

Carol Culhane paints ox in honor of county’s bicentennial

Photos by Tom Rivers

CARLTON – A statue of an ox is painted to pay homage to early settlers in Orleans County, which this year commemorated its 200^th anniversary.

Carol Culhane, a member of the Orleans County Bicentennial Committee, is nearly done with the ox. She has been working on it, on and off, the past three months. It will go in a county building or perhaps be displayed outside. The exact spot is to be determined. Right now it’s in the rec room at her house in Carlton. She has the first coats of paint on two other oxen as well.

The ox body is painted black. Culhane painted the county seal on one side and the bicentennial logo on the other. The seal has a gold color that Culhane also used for the horns and hooves.

The Bicentennial Committee picked an ox as a mascot and symbol for the county’s 200^th anniversary. Oxen were critical for the pioneers, pulling wagons and helping to clear forests and plant crops.

Culhane read about many of the early settlers in a book by Arad Thomas in 1871, “Pioneer History of Orleans County.” Thomas interviewed many of the settlers. That book provides first-hand accounts of the tenacity needed to survive in the early 1800s when the settlers often lacked food for themselves and their livestock. Many of the settlers, including their children, died from disease.

Culhane has painted a portrait of a settler from each of the 10 towns and four villages. She included women, whose contributions often weren’t recorded.

Thomas featured some women in his book. But Culhane said Dee Robinson, a retired Gaines historian, wrote about the contributions of many local women in her book, “Historical Amnesia.”

The settlers highlighted by Culhane include:

• Nehemiah Ingersoll – Village of Albion
• Roswell Burrows – Town of Albion
• Lansing Bailey – Town of Barre
• Bathshua Brown – Town of Carlton
• Elizabeth Johnson – Village of Lyndonville
• David Jones – Town of Kendall
• Fanny Ferguson – Town of Murray
• Phoebe Sprague – Village of Holley
• Chauncey Robinson – Town of Clarendon
• Elizabeth Gilbert – Town of Gaines
• Peter Hoag – Village of Medina
• Seymour Murdock – Town of Ridgeway
• Matthew Gregory – Town of Shelby
• Horace Goold – Town of Yates

Arad Thomas’s book included photos of 12 of the 14 settlers painted by Culhane. She used AI to get a sketch for pioneers, Bathshua Brown and Elizabeth Gilbert. Culhane provided some details about their lives to help create the depictions from AI.

Culhane who like to see a display with information about each of the 14 people featured in portraits.

She marvels at women like Elizabeth Gilbert of Gaines and Bathshua Brown of Carlton. Both became widows and had to forge a new life in Orleans County without a spouse.

They endured the loss of children and faced intense hardships in trying to build new lives in Orleans County.

Brown and her husband moved to Orleans County, traveling by boat in 1804. Elijah Brown did not survive the trip and he was buried in the Brown Cemetery at the Bridges in 1804, the first marked burial in Orleans County. Elijah and Bathshua had 17 children, with 12 living to adulthood.

The Brown family continues to live and farm in Carlton – 221 years after Bathshua and her children moved to the area.

Culhane said the settlers had hard lives, and she wanted to honor their efforts in the early days of the county.

“Look at what they went through,” Culhane said. “All of them had strength and grace and courage to carry on.”

County Historian Catherine Cooper, left, commended Culhane for her vision for the ox and the artwork. Cooper said the ox’s face was particularly striking. Cooper said she would like the ox to prominently displayed by the county.

Culhane has long used her artistic talents to support veterans, Hospice of Orleans County and other causes. She created a bicentennial poster for the county, showing the modern Courthouse Square and an earlier log cabin that existed on the spot before the courthouse was built in 1858.

Culhane painted three horses for Rochester’s Horses on Praade in 2001 and a giraffe for the Animal Scramble in 2003. Culhane sees home those community art projects were fun and encouraged people to explore Rochester and Monroe County.

She thinks the painted oxen can have a similar impact in Orleans County. She has painted the third one. Stacey Kirby Steward painted the first one in 2024 during the Orleans County 4-H Fair. It included an agricultural scene on one side and fair scenes on the other side. That ox is at the fairgrounds.

Melissa Ierlan used decoupage to cover an ox with photos from Clarendon. That ox is at the Clarendon Historical Society.

Culhane has two more to do. Next up will be one with vignettes from Point Breeze and Carlton. She is painting that one for the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association and Friends of the Orleans County Marine Park.

Then she will paint another one with scenes from around the county, some historic and other of the modern day.

The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council approved grants for the upcoming two oxen by Culhane, while the one celebrating the early settlers was funded from the Orleans County Bicentennial Committee.

The Town of Kendall and Town of Carlton also are working on oxen for their towns. Culhane would like to see more added each year to celebrate the community and build a tourism attraction for the county.

“I think it’s a great asset for the county,” she said about the painted oxen.

Culhane said it was an honor to paint the ox for the county, which she said she loves dearly.

The minimum wage is on the rise again and will go to $16 an hour beginning on Jan. 1 in Orleans County. That is up 50 cents from the current $15.50 an hour.

It continues a trend where the minimum wage has increased from $11.80 in 2020 to $12.50 in 2021, $13.20 in 2022, $14.20 in 2023, $15 in 2024 and $15.50 in 2025.

This will be the last scheduled increase with a set amount. After 2026, any increases will be tied to inflation.

The rate will be $16 an hour for Orleans County and most of upstate. The minimum wage will be $17 per hour for New York City, Long Island and Westchester County.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Nyla Gaylord, executive director for the United Way of Orleans County, speaks during a forum in May about housing challenges in Orleans County. The organization has worked on several issues in the community outside of the traditional fundraising efforts by the United Way.

After more than six decades of service, the United Way of Orleans County has officially changed its name to Orleans Community Connects.

The change reflects the organization’s deep roots in the community and its expanding role as a connector of people, resources and opportunities, according to executive director Nyla Gaylord.

“This new name represents who we’ve become – a local, independent organization focused on collaboration, innovation and the unique strengths of Orleans County,” Gaylord said.  “We are still the same trusted organization our community knows and values, but with a renewed energy and vision for the future.”

The new tagline – “Rooted in Community, Driven by Connections” – captures the organization’s focus on partnership-driven initiatives that improve lives and strengthens familiar neighborhoods in Orleans County.

Gaylord continued, “Over the past several years, the organization has led efforts in housing revitalization, digital literacy, caregiver support and food access, bringing together residents, local government and nonprofits to tackle community challenges.”

Orleans Community Connects remains dedicated to serving all residents of the county,  continuing to support programs and services that build local capacity and connect people to essential resources. Fundraising will continue to be a priority to enable us to fund these programs and services, Gaylord added.

“This change isn’t about moving away from our past, it’s about building upon our recent successes,” she said. “We are growing into a future where collaboration and community connections are the keys to lasting change.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: Mike Donahue is the bugler while Taps was played as part of the Honor Guard on Dec. 14, 2024 during the first Wreaths Across America at Mount Albion Cemetery.

By Ginny Kropf and Tom Rivers

More than 2,300 wreaths will be set at veterans’ graves today at cemeteries in Albion, Holley/Clarendon, Medina and Lyndonville.

All four are hosting ceremonies at noon today as art of Wreaths Across America.

Volunteers will be placing 300 wreaths at Hillside Cemetery, about 450 in Lyndonville at Lynhaven and other sites, 360 at Mount Albion Cemetery, and over 1,260 in Medina at Boxwood, St. Mary’s and other cemeteries.

Medina was the first community in Orleans County to embrace Wreaths Across America in 2013. The wreaths are purchased for $17 each. The first year Medina had nine wreaths and now has over 1,200.

More than 5,600 communities around the country will honor service members laid to rest as part of Wreaths Across America.

Wreaths Across America began when Morrill Worcester, owner of a wreath company in Maine, visited Arlington National Cemetery and realized many veterans’ graves did not have wreaths.

That Christmas Worcester had extra wreaths and arranged to have them shipped to Arlington and placed on graves in the older part of the cemetery which had fewer visitors. His action picked up support, and since then Wreaths Across American has become a national tradition.

Kathy Blackburn pushed to start the effort in Medina and coordinated the program for about a decade. Tom Snyder is now heading Wreaths Across America in Medina.

He said 1,260 wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves in Medina. A brief ceremony will begin at noon at Boxwood Cemetery, with Nik Mroz, director of Orleans County Veterans’ Services, as emcee.

Following the ceremony, which includes placing a wreath on the grave of a veteran from each branch of the military, volunteers will start placing the wreaths on the rest of the veterans’ graves in the cemetery. Snyder commended the Medina DPW, who placed the boxes of wreaths in strategic locations throughout the cemeteries.

Last year, Blackburn felt it was time to give up her role in the wreath project and turned it over to local businesswoman Gloria Snyder. This year Tom Snyder, who is Gloria’s brother-in-law and a Navy veteran, agreed to take on the project.

“I also take a wreath every year to my father’s grave at Mount Albion,” Snyder said.

Snyder encourages the public to consider buying a wreath for a veteran’s grave. During the month of December, they can be purchased for $17, buy one, get one free. Any resident may purchase one or make a donation to the project at the village office on Park Avenue.

Photos by Tom Rivers

GAINES – Rob Batt, executive director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, honors the “Friends of the Extension” during the CCE’s annual meeting last week at the Tavern on the Ridge.

Gary and Dawn Marciszewski received the award for their volunteer efforts running the Senior Council Stand during the week-long 4-H Fair. They order all the food and stay with the volunteers from morning to night.

The stand raises about $15,000 during the week to support 4-H programs.

The Marciszewskis have been involved with 4-H for decades. They were poultry superintendents and chaperones for trips. Mrs. Marciszewski also was a dog club leader.

They work with about 100 youths in the Senior Council Stand during the week. Mrs. Marciszewski said the kids enjoy taking responsibility when they have their shifts.

“They like to cook, make change and stock shelves,” she said. They like to do things.”

She and her husband have enjoyed watching the 4-Hers grow up over the years.

Jann Davis of West Barre, left, was honored as the 4-H Volunteer of the Year. She is presented the award by Kristina Gabalski, the 4-H program leader.

Davis is vice president of the Horse Program Development Committee and coach of the Horse Bowl and Hippology teams. A former 4-H program leader, Davis returned to volunteering with 4-H about two years ago. She joined a strong horse program that has dozens of youths, Gabalski said.

The program is Orleans, however, had limited equine knowledge-related programs and contests. Davis stepped in to run Horse Bowl and Hippology for Orleans County.

Horse Bowl is in a  Jeopardy-style format, giving youths a chance to showcase their horse knowledge in a competitive event. Horse Bowl asks questions about equine terms, the horse industry, feeding and care, and anatomy.

Hippology is more rigorous testing of equine science and application of equine knowledge in a competitive setting. “Hippo” means horse in Greek and “ology” is the study of.

Davis led teams in Horse Bowl and Hippology contests in regional contests last spring, and then the Hippology competition at the State Fair in August.

“Jann is incredibly knowledgeable, creative, enthusiastic, patient and kind,” Gabalski said. “She also understands the importance of setting expectations and challenges for youth while supporting them with the knowledge that they have the grit and ability to go outside their comfort zones and do these things.”

There are currently seven youths in the program. Davis said three more are expected to soon join.

Other 4-H leaders were recognized during the annual meeting:

• Barb Kurzowski for 27 years with the Rabbit Raisers and poultry clubs
• Erik Seielstad for 13 years with the robotics program
• Dawn Marciszewski for the 4-H Senior Council Stand
• Robyn Watts for 48 years with the Abundant Harvest 4-H Club. She also leads the Family and Consumer Science Program Development Committee.
• Melissa Asento for five years leading the Goat Busters Club.
• Bill Gerling for 35 years with the rabbit program

Caton Conde, president of the board of directors for the CCE, addressed about 75 people at the annual meeting. Conde was an active member of the 4-H program as a kid when she was Caton McKenna. She thanked the many 4-H volunteers for offering such a meaningful program in Orleans County.

“As a proud 4-H alum, I know firsthand how transformative the programs we offer can be,” Conde said. “Raising animals, learning new skills, showing at the fair – these moments create not only incredible memories but also a strong work ethic that stays with you for life.”

Conde said she felt so strongly about the 4-H, she named her daughter Clover, which is the 4-H logo. Her son is in the 4-H Lego Club. She looks forward to her children growing up in the program and showing animals and entering projects at the fair.

There are 319 youths enrolled in 4-H. They entered 3,337 exhibits at the county fair.

Some other highlights from the year:

• Master gardeners and food preservers completed 2,335 hours of service teaching 1,388 class participants
• Digital literacy served an average of 1.2 people very working day
• The Elderberries Senior Cooking program expanded to serve eight counties in WNY
• An average of 400 households attended monthly food distributions at the fairgrounds.
• Families used 2,000 seed packets from the master gardeners seed share program to start and grow their own plants at home
• Pesticide education supported 165 individuals taking pretest training for essential licensing

Press Release, Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon

ALBION – Orleans County Clerk Nadine Hanlon today said those who are still using a standard driver’s license to board a domestic flight will be faced with a new $45 fee from the Transportation Security Administrations (TSA) beginning Feb. 1.

Those who have a New York State REAL ID license, enhanced license, passport or other DHS trusted traveler cards like Nexus are not impacted.

“As many people know, REAL ID requirements to board domestic flights took full effect earlier this year after years of postponement,” said Hanlon.  “If you failed to get a REAL ID compliant document, TSA will soon begin charging you a fee to board a flight to cover the cost of an alternative ID verification process.”

Hanlon said specifically the fee is to use the TSA Confirm.ID process which uses advanced biometrics and biographic data for identification verification. Users will be directed to an online portal to provide personal details and documents. The approval is then good for 10 days.

 “I highly suggest people who plan on flying and have yet to get their REAL ID do so and avoid the new process and fee,” said Hanlon.

Hanlon reminded residents that New York State offers both a REAL ID license and Enhanced Driver’s License to meet the federal requirements. The difference is the Enhanced can be used for travel to Canada, Mexico and some Caribbean countries.

Residents can visit www.dmv.ny.gov  to learn about the different options and the documentation you must bring to the DMV to be issued one. The Orleans County Clerk’s Office is also a passport acceptance agency. Click here to learn more.

Taxes increase 2.6 percent, but that’s within county’s allowable limit

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Legislature last week held a public hearing on the county’s $100,261,320 budget for 2026. From left include Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer and budget officer; Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the County Legislature; and Lisa Stenshorn, clerk of the legislature.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has unanimously approved the 2026 budget, a $100,261,320 spending plan that increases taxes by 2.6 percent.

That is under the county’s allowable tax levy limit. The levy will increase by $500,000 in 2026 – from $19,639,000 to $20,139,000. The county’s allowable limit is an increase of $623,787. The tax rate will go up 14 cents from $7.91 to $8.05 per $1,000 of assessed property.

The budget tops $100 million for the first time. Spending is up 1.18 percent from the $99,092,747 in 2025 to $100,261,320.

County officials said the budget faced pressure from two significant increases: retirement contributions and the costs of a mental health program for people deemed unfit to stand trial.

Lynne Johnson, the County Legislature chairwoman, thanked Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch and County Treasurer Kim DeFrank for their work on the budget.

Jack Welch, the chief administrative officer, said two big expenses, pension contributions and a mental health law 730.30, strained the budget for 2026.

“This has been a particularly challenging year and the fact that we continued to stay under the property tax cap is a testament to the hard work and creativity of Jack, Kim and all of our department heads,” Johnson said during a budget hearing on Dec. 3.

The budget also faces a 20.8 percent increase in New York State retirement costs due to a lower stock market evaluation on March 31, 2025, as well as some employees earning more money from longer work weeks – 35 to 40 hours, Welch said.

The county’s bill for retirement costs will be up $786,267 in 2026. The retirement costs are one of the nine state mandated programs which now account of 115 percent of the tax levy, Welch said.

The other big increase for the county: Mental Health Law Expense 730.30, where people deemed unfit to stand trial are committed to a facility. That can cost $30,000 to $50,000 a month per person.

The “730” expense went from $57,000 in 2023 to $367,000 in 2024 (with $50,000 budgeted). This year the budget was increased to $550,000 but the county has already spent over $1.8 million. The budgeted amount for 2026 is $1.5 million.

The cost used to be a 50-50 split with the state, but the state made it a 100 percent county expense.

“Orleans County and its taxpayers have no more capacity left to continue with these drastic increases. New York State must address this and do it now,” Johnson said.

The county was able to stay under the tax cap despite the big increases in retirement contributions and the “730” costs through other cost savings and revenue growth.

The county is moving its health insurance and medical coverage from Highmark to NYSHIP’s Empire Plan, which will reduce those costs by 6 percent.

The county also is projecting a $1.6 million increase in the local sales tax revenue. This year the sales tax receipts have been strong, nearly 9 percent ahead of 2024.

Welch said the budget maintains core county services and programs “in the most cost-effective manner possible, complies with the New York State property tax cap and provides funding for prioritized projects and programs while avoiding fiscal stress.”

Welch and Johnson both said the county budget remains driven by state-mandated programs.

The nine mandated programs used to account for 90 percent of the overall tax levy. With the 12026 budget, those mandates now account for $23,196,803 or 115.2 percent of the tax levy, Welch said.

9 state-mandated programs:

• Medicaid – $8,810,237 (down 0.3 percent)
• Public assistance/Safety Net – $3,169,135 (up 6.5 percent)
• Child welfare/protection – $2,321,194 (up 2.7 percent)
• Special education – $1,042,878 (up 3.5 percent)
• Indigent defense – $605,188 (down 19.2 percent)
• Probation – $830,723 (up 19.6 percent)
• Mental Health law expense 730.30 – $1.5 million (up 272.7 percent)
• Early intervention – $360,258 (up 13.0 percent)
• Pension – $4,557,190 (up 20.8 percent)

Total: $23,196,803 (up 10.1 percent)

Welch said the budget also maintains funding to local municipalities (sales tax sharing, community college local expense, animal control, vehicle and traffic prosecution) at $3,819,691 in 2026, up from $3,810,445. That accounts for 19.0 percent of tax levy or $1.53 of the overall rate.

The budget keeps funding at the same levels for organizations providing services in the county including:

Cornell Cooperative Extension at $240,000; Orleans Economic Development Agency at $200,000; Soil & Water at $100,500, four public libraries to share $10,000; Mercy Flight at $5,000; Council of the Arts at $4,000; Cobblestone Museum, $3,000.

The budget includes $8,566,052 for capital projects:

Highway – $7,446,143 ($7,060,509 from state and federal governments)

• Local bridge and culvert repairs, $50,000
• Patch and seal county roads, $150,000
• Highway reconstruction, $2,668,458
• Eagle Harbor Knowlesville culvert, $865,000
• Bridge Project #2, $2,375,500
• Groth Road bridge replacement, $1,337,185

Buildings and grounds – $610,000 (all county cost)

• Boiler pump (Public Square), $40,000
• Pole barn, $150,000
• Parking lot at DPW, $130,000
• Elevator maintenance, $30,000
• Air handlers (Treasurer and Probation), $50,000
• Fiber loop, $210,000

Sheriff – $509,909 (All county cost)

• Animal control for leased truck, $15,000
• Fleet maintenance program: 2026, $105,000
• Fleet maintenance program: 2024, $52,957
• Fleet maintenance program: 2025, $106,800
• Tasers lease (2024-2028), $45,575
• 8×10 omega plate, $15,000
• Jail – vests, $13,577
• Jail – Axon Tasers lease, $6,000
• Jail repairs, $150,000