Photo by Tom Rivers: The video gaming center at Batavia Downs has been a money-maker for Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp., which shares its profits with 15 counties and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo.

Orleans County is seeing a near doubling in its share of the profits from Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp.

The county received $189,607 from WROTB in 2025, up from $101,097 in 2024.

WROTB is owned by 15 counties and the cities of Rochester and Buffalo. Batavia Downs Gaming has proven to be a money-maker for WROTB, averaging about $7.5 million in profit or “net win” a month with NYS receiving 39 percent of that total.

The WROTB revenues shared with the member municipalities increased from $6,705,049 in 2024 to $12,865,737 in 2025, a 92 percent increase.

“WROTB closed fiscal year 2025 with record-breaking results, marking the most successful year in the corporation’s history,” President and CEO Byron Brown wrote in a letter to Lynne Johnson, chairperson of the Orleans County Legislature.

WROTB paid out $251 million in winnings, up from $243 million. The organization also saw net win for the organization total $93 million, an increase of $4.7 million over 2024 and year-over-year growth of 5.4 percent, Brown said.

Orleans County was an original member when WROTB formed over 50 years ago. Since 1975, Orleans has received $3,180,777 from WROTB, Brown stated in his letter to Johnson.

Here are the revenues paid to Orleans County each year since 2020:

• 2020: $6,975 (Covid restrictions shut down operations for several months before reopening with restrictions.)
• 2021: $85,236
• 2022: $123,945
• 2023: $144,691
• 2024: $101,097
• 2025: $189,607

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature voted to increase the maximum exemptions for low-income seniors from 50 percent off their property taxes to 65 percent.

The Legislature approved the change on Tuesday. While the cap is going higher, the Legislature isn’t increasing the income limits for people 65 and older to be eligible for an exemption. That will remain at a $24,700 threshold.

Here are the new exemption levels based on income:

• $16,000 or less – 65 percent exemption
• $16,000.01 to $16,999.99 – 60 percent exemption
• $17,000 to $17,999.99 – 55 percent exemption
• $18,000 to $18,999.99 – 50 percent exemption
• $19,000 to $19,999.99 – 45 percent exemption
• $20,000 to $20,999.99 – 40 percent exemption
• $21,000 to $21,999.99 – 35 percent exemption
• $22,000 to $22,899.99 – 30 percent exemption
• $22,900 to $23,799.99 – 25 percent exemption
• $23,800 to $24,699.99 – 20 percent exemption

Gov. Kathy Hochul in December signed legislation to allow local municipalities to increase the size of the exemptions from a maximum 50 percent to 65 percent.

“No New York senior should lose their home because they can no longer afford their property taxes,” Hochul said on Dec. 6 in announcing the higher exemption levels. “By signing this legislation, we are working to make New York more affordable for our seniors on fixed incomes and empowering them to age in place, at home, in the communities they know and love.”

Press Release, Orleans County Department of Social Services

ALBION – The Orleans County Department of Social Services (DSS) will be launching a new AI-powered virtual phone assistant named EVA to better help residents who call Temporary Assistance.

EVA will be available during business to answer questions. DSS believes that having EVA handle calls for basic information will allow staff to spend more time directly helping families in need. The new system will operational this Monday, March 16.

“We have been testing this system as a way to better support and respond to residents attempting to reach Temporary Assistance,” said Cyndi Stumer, deputy commissioner of DSS. “EVA can quickly provide the necessary information to callers looking for things like office locations, hours, phone numbers and much more, without the caller having to navigate through multiple layers.”

Diane Kephart, director of Temporary Assistance in DSS, said one of the big advantages of the new system is that those who call can speak their native language and EVA will adapt accordingly.

“By automatically adapting to each caller’s native language, our new AI system ensures that Temporary Assistance services are easily accessible , removing language barriers, reducing misunderstandings, and empowering families to get the support they need,” said Kephart.

To reach EVA, call 585-589-7000, then press 4. EVA will then ask how she can help.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Fireworks reflect in the Erie Canal on July 2 after a performance by the Albany Symphony in Medina as part of the celebration for the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary. That concert attracted 1,000 people. There were many special events last year in the county for the bicentennial of both the canal and Orleans County.

ALBION – Orleans County set a new record high for bed tax in 2025, despite concerns that some Canadians might cut back on their traveling to the region.

Last year was a big year for celebrations in the county with the bicentennials of both the Erie Canal and Orleans County, as well as an active year for concerts, festivals and other events.

The Seneca Chief travels along the Erie Canal between Middleport and Medina on Sept. 25. The vessel is a replica of the maiden canal boat that carried Gov. DeWitt Clinton on the canal in 1825. There were celebrations along the canal system during the Seneca Chief’s 33-day journey last year from Buffalo to New York City.

The county imposes a 4 percent occupancy tax on lodging establishments, and that bed tax generated $119,501.51 in 2025, said County Treasurer Kim DeFrank.

 This is the fourth straight year the tax has topped $100,000 for the county.

Here are the totals in recent years:

• $119,502 in 2025
• $116,712 in 2024
• $119,003 in 2023
• $111,548 in 2022
• $79,102 in 2021
• $58,438 in 2020
• $58,424 in 2019
• $51,002 in 2018
• $45,374 in 2017

There are about 200 rooms for rent in the county, including at hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and short-term rentals.

Orleans County imposes a 4 percent bed tax on top of the 8 percent sales tax.

The county sets aside the bed tax to fund the tourism department and initiatives to bring in visitors. The increase in funds allowed the county to hire a sportsfishing coordinator in December 2022, filling a position that had been vacant for nearly five years. Ron Bierstine promotes the county’s top tourism draw of sportsfishing attending more of fishing shows, including in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

The county also has stepped up its digital advertising on Facebook to promote events in Orleans to attract more visitors to the area. The tourism department promotes local festivities, museums and other attractions.

Press Release, Orleans County government

ALBION – The Orleans County Department of Social Services (DSS) is reminding families, even those without earned income, to file a New York State income tax return so they can take full advantage of the Empire State Child Credit.

New this year (for Tax Year 2025), households with the lowest income, or even no income, can receive the maximum for this credit.

Families can receive up to $1,000 per child under age 4 and up to $330 per child ages 4 to 16. They may also be eligible for other federal and state tax credits. These funds can be used to pay taxes owed, if any, and provide additional cash back to families.

“This program is specifically targeted to families with children, regardless of income, but in order to receive the benefit, you have to file a tax return,” said Orleans County DSS Commissioner Holli Nenni. “It is important that families understand they can receive this cash back even if they don’t normally file taxes or haven’t filed taxes in a while.”

Nenni stressed that filing a tax return for the Empire State Child Credit and receiving cash back will not impact Medicaid, SNAP, Cash Assistance, SSI, or Housing Assistance benefits.

For more information on the program, including how to get assistance in preparing a tax return, visit www.otda.ny.gov/childcredit.

Photo by Tom Rivers: These kids enjoy the splash pad at Bullard Park last year on June 4 when temperatures were in the 80s. The Village of Albion runs a six-week summer recreation program.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature has approved $86,658 towards youth programs and services in the county.

The Youth Bureau Resource Allocation Plan was developed by the Orleans County Youth Bureau and Department of Social Services. The joint plan makes the county eligible for state aid from the State Office of Children and Family Services.

The money is awarded to municipalities and community-based agencies. The county received funding requests for about $260,000, said Kelly Kiebala, the Youth Bureau administrator. There is a small amount of additional money that is expected to be awarded for youth programs in addition to the $86,658, Kiebala said.

The allocations are for three different programs: Municipal Youth Development Program, $44,768; Municipal Youth Sports & Education Opportunity Funding, $23,252; and Municipal Youth Team Sports, $18,638.

Here is a breakdown of the funding:

Municipal Youth Development Program:

• Arc GLOW Camp Rainbow – $4,152.80
• GLOW Works, Inc. (GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare) – $500
• GLOW Works, Inc. (GLOW With Your Hands: Manufacturing) – $500
• Hoag Library Summer Reading – $500
• Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension – $1,500
• Orleans County Probation Juvenile Adjustment Services – $16,000
• PTA New York Congress – Albion Elementary PTA – $900
• Town of Kendall Recreation – $2,000
• Village of Albion Recreation – $2,000
• Village of Holley Recreation – $2,000
• Village of Medina Recreation – $1,500
• Orleans County Youth Bureau Annual Awards – $2,000
• Orleans County Youth Bureau Family Game Night – $2,000
• Orleans County Youth Bureau – $6,715.20

Municipal Youth Sports & Education Opportunity:

• Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension – $1,500
• Village of Albion Recreation – $17,264.20
• Village of Holley Recreation – $1,000
• Orleans County Youth Bureau – $3,487.80

Municipal Youth Teams Sports:

• Albion High School Alumni Foundation for the Albion Soccer Club – $3,500
• Albion Youth Football and Cheerleading – $3,500
• Purple Eagles Wrestling Academy – $8,842
• Orleans County Youth Bureau – $2,795

Photo by Tom Rivers: Workers from Upstate Tower Construction in West Seneca are shown putting up a 180-foot-high tower in Carlton on Feb. 5, 2024. The tower is next to the Town Hall and highway garage on Waterport-Carlton Road. The tower was paid for as part of $2,990,000 grant from the state to the county through the Statewide Interoperable Communications Grant. That grant pays for the new tower in Carlton, a new tower and equipment at the Orleans County Emergency Management Office on West Countyhouse Road in Albion, and two backup 911 dispatch consoles at the EMO site. A separate $11.5 million grant is paying for more towers and high-speed internet equipment.

ALBION – Two new towers for high-speed internet service will be built in Ridgeway and Carlton, and equipment also will be going on a grain silo in Clarendon.

Those projects are part of a build-out of the wireless internet system in the county. The county in November 2024 was awarded a $11,562,698 state grant to upgrade wireless internet service throughout the county.

The funding came through the Empire State Development’s ConnectALL Municipal Infrastructure Program. This will allow the county to increase wireless internet speeds from the current 25 Mega Bit Per Seconds (Mbps) to 100 (Mbps).

There are currently 19 towers for the high-speed internet system. The Orleans County Planning Board on Thursday gave its support for two new towers plus the equipment on a grain silo in Clarendon. Those additions should fill gaps in internet coverage.

The county approved a $11,216,500 contract from North Shore Networks LLC in Medina to implement the faster internet service. That company is led by Duston Ellis, who worked over a decade in Kentucky for Broadlinc, helping run a high-speed internet service in a rural area. Ellis moved to Medina to be near his wife’s family.

• The new 150-foot-high tower in Carlton will be a monopole at 961 Wilson Rd. near the Village of Albion Water Treatment Plant.

• The 150-foot-high tower in Ridgeway will be at 2490 Townline Rd. on land owned by Panek Farms. The tower will be on a site that is not being actively farmed.

• In  Clarendon, an antenna array will be installed atop an existing 140-foot-high grain silo at 5122 Soth Holley Rd., near Glidden Road. The property is owned by Kevin Wolf, LLC.

The equipment includes four radios and a network cabinet. The radios will broadcast out at 90 degrees in each direction.

Provided photo:  County Legislator John Fitzak, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson and Legislator Skip Draper meet in Tenney’s office in Washington, DC.

Press Release, Orleans County Legislature

WASHINGTON, DC – Orleans County legislative leaders joined nearly 2,000 county leaders from across the country for the 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference this week in Washington, D.C.

The conference featured speakers from the Trump Administration and Congress including of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Lee Zeldin, head of the Environmental Protection Agency.  Conference attendees shaped NACo’s legislative agenda, received updates on key federal policies and advocated for county priorities on Capitol Hill.

“Each year, we use this conference as an opportunity to collaborate with county leaders from across the country on our shared priorities and then advocate for those policies and the specific needs of Orleans County with federal leaders,” said Lynne Johnson, Chairman of the Orleans County Legislature.  “In previous years, our advocacy efforts have been key to securing federal funding for local projects.”

Joining Chairman Johnson at the NACo conference were Legislators Merle “Skip” Draper of Medina and John Fitzak of Carlton.  The conference touched on several key areas of importance to Orleans County including data centers, artificial intelligence, workforce development and public safety. There was also a Federal Agency Expo, with nearly 50 federal program offices sending representatives to meet with conference participants and build intergovernmental partnerships.

“Federal policies have direct and long-lasting impacts on county governments and our residents,” said NACo President J.D. Clark. “NACo’s Legislative Conference is an important opportunity for county leaders to strengthen relationships with our intergovernmental partners, tell our county story and advocate for county priorities that help our communities and residents thrive.”

The conference culminated in an Advocacy Day of Action, positioning attendees to advocate for county federal policy priorities.  Orleans County officials spent time on Capitol Hill meeting with staff from Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand’s office. In addition, Orleans County officials met with Congresswoman Tenney and staff from the USDA.

Orleans County leaders thanked federal representatives for securing funding for the future Emergency Management Operations Center and the Public Safety Building rehabilitation.  This year’s priorities included funding for the modernization and upgrades of the former Genesee Community College building in Albion for the Probation Department; support for the regional dredging initiative that includes Oak Orchard Harbor; and funding for Marine Park dock repairs to support public safety.

“We know we will not get everything we ask for, but it’s important to continue to beat the drum for our funding priorities and hope our federal representatives can deliver,” Fitzak said. “Sometimes it takes years of asking before a funding pot is identified for a project, so our job is to keep it on the front burner until that happens.”

Press Release, Orleans Economic Development Agency

ALBION – Applications are now available for the Spring Microenterprise Assistance Program (MAP), a 10-week business development course offered through the Orleans County Local Development Corporation.

The MAP program supports aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage small business owners by providing practical training in business planning, finance, marketing, and operations. The program is designed to strengthen the local economy by expanding access to small business education across Orleans County.

Classes will be held Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m., beginning April 2 through June 4. Sessions will take place at Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension.

The course fee is $300. Financial assistance is available based on demonstrated need.

Graduates from recent MAP cohorts pursued local ventures ranging from retail to beauty and wellness, landscaping, property management services, and specialty manufacturing.

Applications will be accepted through March 13, and can be done online (click here).

For questions about MAP program requirements contact Matt Holland at the Orleans Economic Development Agency, (585) 589-7060 ext. 1.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County Legislator Don Allport last week presented a proclamation declaring March as “Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.” He presents the proclamation to representatives from the Arc GLOW.

From left include Arc board member Marlene Hill of Medina; Mary Lou Touhey, mother of person supported; Nicole Touhey, a person supported; and Lisa Bors, VP of Public Relations and Development for Arc GLOW.

March is Developmental Disabilities (DD) Awareness Month highlights the inclusion, contributions, and potential of people with developmental disabilities.

The former Arc of Genesee Orleans and Arc of Livingston-Wyoming merged in 2021 to form the new Arc GLOW. This is the first four-county chapter of The Arc New York. This follows the merger in 2016 of the former Arc of Orleans and Genesee Arc.

In Orleans County, Arc GLOW has three homes for individuals with disabilities, operates Orleans Enterprises Work Center in Albion, day habilitation programs, Meals on Wheels/Nutrifare in Albion and Camp Rainbow in Ridgeway. Several programs and departments also share space with the finance department on Caroline Street in Albion, Arc GLOW officials said.

The original ARC of Orleans County formed about 60 years ago.

“March is designated as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month to highlight the abilities and achievements of people with developmental disabilities, while raising awareness of the challenges they face,” according to the proclamation form the County Legislature. “People with developmental disabilities are an essential part of our community, bringing unique talents, perspectives, and strength to Orleans County.”