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.

Lantern parade added to the festivities

Photo by Tom Rivers: Corey Fults, a lineman with the Village of Holley Electric Department, puts lights on a tree in Holley’s Public Square on Thursday.

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley will have its annual tree-lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday when the names of people honored with memory bulbs are read aloud.

Sal DeLuca, recently recognized by the Village Board as Holley’s Citizen of the Year, will be part of the ceremony as well.

The village is trying a new lantern parade, too. People are welcome to bring paper lanterns or other more sturdy ones for a parade. If there are enough lanterns, the parade will start at 6 p.m. and go from the pharmacy to the Public Square.

If there are only a few, people are welcome to just have them at the tree lighting. The Community Free Library has hosted lantern-making workshops to help people make the lanterns. They have been designed and decorated with a theme from The 12 Days of Christmas.

After the tree-lighting, the community is welcome to go the fire hall to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus.

There will also be horse-drawn carriage rides for free from 1 to 4:30 p.m., with pick up and drop off at the Murray-Holley Historical Society Museum.

The American Legion also will be hosting a craft show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The big Santa statue in the Public Square was blasted with snow during an intense snow squall on Thursday morning.

Photos courtesy of Albion Legion Sheret Post 35: American Legion Sheret Post 35 Family leaders, from left: Joe Gehl, president Sheret Post 35; Mike Reigle, president Legion Riders; Rachael Spearance, president of Auxiliary; Pete Hennekey, commander Sons of Legion; Brad Rouse, commander American Legion; Ray Madigan, VFW Post 202; and Tom Sietmann, VFW Post 202. Madigan and Sietmann are continuing the Toys for Tots program after the Holley Hellhounds Marine Corp League disbanded.

ALBION – The American Legion family of organizations in Albion has donated to the Toys for Tots program, filling boxes with toys.

Brad Rouse, commander of the Sheret Post 35 in Albion, said the Legion donated money last year. This year the organization ourchased toys and made monetary donations.

Rachael Spearance and Karen Dawley from the Auxiliary went shopping for the American Legion, Auxiliary and Legion Riders. Debbie Hennekey and Lindsey Monacelli of the Auxilary shopped for Sheret Post 35 and Sons of Legion.

The groups and supporters donated $990, in addition to purchasing toys.

“Thank you goes out to all our members for the continued donations of goods, volunteering and services from the community all year long,” said Brad Rouse, the Legion commander.

American Legion Sheret Post 35 – from left Phil Warne, Rick Ebbs, Wally Skrypnik, Jim Hollinger, Robert Gilsinan, Joe Gehl, Brad Rouse, Ray Madigan and Tom Sietmann.

Sons of Legion – from left Brad Rouse, Mike Riegle, Roger Ettinger, Pete Hennekey ,Ray Madigan and Tom Sietmann.

Auxiliary – from left Lori Recco, Lindsey Monacelli, Debbie Hennekey, Caroline Gibson, Carol Rouse, Wendy Hinkley, Racheal Spearance, Ray Madigan and Tom Sietmann.

Legion Riders – from left Lori Recco, Mike Riegle, Ray Madigan and Tom Sietmann.

Auxilary members presenting checks from C.W. Cold Storage, and Presidents Village. From left Lindsey Monacelli, Debbie Hennekey, Ray Madigan and Tom Sietmann.

Provided photos: Medina High School’s A'Cappella Choir will present its annual Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at St. Mary’s Church in Medina.

MEDINA – Two esteemed musical groups from the Medina Central School System will join once again this year to present their annual Community Christmas Concert.

The Medina High School A’Cappella Choir and Oak Orchard Elementary School Glee Club Community Christmas Concert is scheduled at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at St. Mary’s Church.

Rachel Trillizio directs the A’Cappella Choir, while Andrea Busch leads the Oak Orchard Glee Club. They will be joined by Kyla Leno and Matt Jaeger, who will direct offerings by several instrumentalists.

The tradition of the A’Cappella Choir Christmas Concert began decades ago at the First Presbyterian Church of Medina, with former choir director Robert Connor.

The much-beloved event became so popular, it eventually outgrew the Presbyterian Church and moved to St. Mary’s, according to Chris Busch, an alumnus of Medina High School and member of St. Mary’s Church.

The event attracts a capacity crowd and is free and open to the public, Busch said.

The Oak Orchard Elementary School Glee Club will join the High School A’Cappella Choir for a Christmas concert Dec. 15 at St. Mary’s Church.

Provided photos

MEDINA – A cast of 91 fifth- and sixth-graders at Clifford Wise Intermediate School is performing Finding Nemo KIDS, a musical, this evening and Friday at 7 p.m.

The 45-minute musical is the based on a beloved Pixar film from 2003, Finding Nemo. The musical is designed for elementary school-aged performers. The cast is led by Anna Ferlito, Morgan Janese, Renee Copperthite, Demerise Eadie and Jeanette Sheliga.

“This is the event that most students look forward to each year!” said Ferlito, a Medina music teacher and the musical director. “It is so exciting to watch them put together a show from start to finish and be proud of their production. It’s amazing to be a part of a community that supports the arts and encourages students to explore their musical abilities!”

This is the third production at Clifford Wise Intermediate School as part of their 5th and 6th grade Performing Arts Program. Other productions included Aladdin Jr. and The Jungle Book kids.

“Over the past two years we have seen tremendous growth in the High School Musical Theater program as a result of equipping students with theatrical fundamentals in the younger grades,” Ferlito said. “The kids love when high school students come and work with them on singing, stage presence, choreography, etc, and we love when the kids already feel connected to the vocal program when they enter high school.”

For information on purchasing tickets please email Musical Director Anna Ferlito at aferlito@medinacsd or call (585) 798-2700 ext. 6204.

Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo KIDS is presented through special arrangement with and all materials are provided by Music Theatre International.

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.

Press Release, Orleans County DSS

RIDGEWAY – The Safe Harbour program run by the Orleans County Department of Social Services is hosting a Human Trafficking Prevention event this evening from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The event will be held at the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company, located at 11392 Ridge Rd. in Medina. Anyone 13 years of age and older is welcome to attend and the event is free.

The event will be focused on what families need to know when it comes to human trafficking. Training will be provided by Survivor-Led Solutions, an organization staffed by survivors of trafficking who use their own life experiences to help people identify the red flags for trafficking and how to respond.

The Safe Harbour program is designed to be a safe place for teens. In addition to providing education and awareness, Safe Harbour provides lessons in life skills to promote a strong foundation to help children launch into their future.

For more information on Safe Harbour or how you can get your child involved in the program, email SafeHarbour@orleanscounty.gov.

File photo by Tom Rivers: These trees were lighted up and decorated in December 2022 at Veterans Park in Lyndonville. The village will turn on the lights on Saturday for 82 trees.

LYNDONVILLE – The community is gearing up for its “Christmas in Lyndonville” celebration on Saturday.

There are activities throughout the day, capped by the lighting of 82 Christmas trees at Veterans Park at 5 p.m. and then a chance to meet Santa from 5:15 to 6:30 at the village office.

The trees are purchased for $45 and decorated by businesses, organizations, families, churches and some graduating classes from Lyndonville.

The village started the tradition of decorating the trees in 2013 with 26 the first year. The number steadily grew reaching a record high of 98 in 2022. Last year there were 85, and now 82 this year.

Santa will arrive at 5 p.m. to flip the switch at the “North Pole” at the park and turn on the lights. The trees will stay on display until after New Year’s, said Teri Buffin, the village clerk/treasurer.

The event on Saturday is sponsored by the Village of Lyndonville, Lyndonville Fire Department, Lyndonville Lions Club and Lyndonville United Methodist Women.

The schedule for Saturday includes:

• Mail letters to Santa at the North Pole Post located at the Yates Community Library
• 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Community Breakfast/Basket Raffle – Lyndonville Presbyterian Church
• 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. – Holiday Cookie Decorating Station & Crafts – Webber Kitchen
• 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. – Soup, Sandwiches, Mac & Cheese & Hot & Cold Drinks – Webber Kitchen
• 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Magical Musical Craft Show – Music Boosters – Lyndonville School
• 10 a.m. to until sold out – Paula’s Donuts & Food – Music Boosters – Lyndonville School
• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Petting Zoo – Library Parking Lot
• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Hot Chocolate – M&T Bank – Library Parking Lot
• 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Catherine Street Bakery – Library Parking Lot
• 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Frosty Toss – Christine Heideman Ins. Broker – Library Parking Lot
• 2 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. – Horse Drawn Carriage Rides – Village Hall
• 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – NYS Child ID – Orleans County Sheriff’s Dept – Village Hall
• 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Pizza Slices & Subs – Chops Shop Bar & Grill North – Library Parking Lot
• 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Craft & Games at Yates Community Library
• 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Hotdogs & Sodas with Lyndonville Lions Club – Library
• 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Caroling at Veterans Park
• 5 p.m. to Santa’s Arrival & Lighting of Trees at Vets Park
• 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Visit with Santa
• 7 p.m. – Christmas LaLaPalooza at Lyndonville Presbyterian Church

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Traffic creeps at the intersection of Main Street and East State Street at about 7:45 when the snow was falling fast and furious.

The National Weather Service has issued a snow squall warning until 8:45 a.m. for Orleans, Genesee, Monroe and Niagara counties. The area will get hit with intense bursts of heavy snow, the Weather Service said.

“Gusty winds leading to blowing snow and rapidly falling visibility,” the Weather Service said. “Travel will become difficult and potentially dangerous within minutes.”

A winter weather advisory is in effect until 4 a.m. on Friday for Orleans, Niagara, northern Erie and Genesee counties with 2 to 5 inches of snow expected.

The Orleans County Department of Public Works clears the sidewalk in front of the County Clerks Building.

The historic marker in honor Albion native Terry Anderson stands out in the snow on next to the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion. This is on the side of the church facing Main Street.

Provided photos

MEDINA – Canalside Tattoo Company held its annual toy drive on Saturday, timed with Medina’s Parade of Lights and the Olde Tyme Christmas celebration.

Pictured from left include Canalside’s team, in front kneeling: Matt Rolfe and Rhianna Rosone. In back: Regan Timmer, owner Shawn Ramsey, Tyler VerCruysse, Andrew London, Megan Furness and CJ Cruickshank.

Canalside for several years has collected toys that are distributed by Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, and the Medina Area Association of Churches (MAAC).

The business moved from Main Street to 627 West Ave. on Aug. 9.

Representatives from the Medina Area Association of Churches and Community Action of Orleans & Genesee picked up the toys this morning. They will distribute them to local children. Both organizations say they are seeing increased need this holiday season.

Pictured form left include Community Action’s facility staff Ernie Gursslin; Sherry Touhey-Sipple, MAAC’s red barrel coordinator; Jim Sipple, MAAC; Community Action Facility Manager Ricky Standish; and Katrina Standish, director of Community Services & Reporting for Community Action.

The toy donation from Canalside’s toy drive will assist in providing gifts to approximately 150 children in Orleans County through Community Action’s holiday program, Katrina Standish said.

On average, the agency serves about 700 individuals for the holidays. Adults receive a holiday meal and children under the age of 18 receive gifts. Outside agencies are invited to “adopt a family” Please call Community Action’s main office in Albion at (585) 589-5605 for more information on adopting a family for the holiday.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announces $100 million in paving projects state-wide today, including two in Orleans County.

The “pavement resiliency” work includes 551 lane miles in state highways. The two projects in Orleans County also extend into a neighboring county.

The local projects include:

• $1.4 million to resurface Route 31A from Hulberton Road to Redman Road, Orleans and Monroe counties.
• $2.6 million to resurface Route 77 from Interstate 90 to Route 63 and Route 63 from Route 77 to the northern boundary of the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Genesee and Orleans counties.

“Between extreme heat in the summer, devastating winter storms and the ongoing saga of freeze-thaw cycles, New York’s roads take a pounding from extreme weather in all seasons, and this investment takes direct aim at rejuvenating some of the State highways most impacted by extreme weather,” Governor Hochul said in a news release. “Keeping our infrastructure in a state of good repair is a sound investment that not only increases resiliency but spurs economic development and tourism across New York.”

The paving projects are expected to start next spring. The work is funded through the federal Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, “$10 million from our Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law is literally paving the way for improved safety and good-paying jobs repairing cracks and modernizing highways across New York. I’ll never stop fighting to make sure that our roads are as safe and efficient as possible, and I’m thankful for Governor Hochul’s work putting these federal dollars to good use.”

The Care & Crisis Helpline serving Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties is up and operational again following a disruption in service due to a network outage.

Residents of the three counties are encouraged to contact the Care & Crisis Helpline at (585) 283-5200 or use the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 during a time of mental health crisis.

Both of these resources are available to all 24 hours a day, 7 days week, 365 days a year.

Faces 5 to 15 years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 29

Noah Magee

ALBION – A judge found Noah Magee not guilty of second-degree murder but instead convicted him of second-degree manslaughter in the death of Roger Kingdollar III, age 24.

Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church said the case didn’t meet the level of “depraved indifference to life” for second-degree murder but did for manslaughter, which is “recklessly causing another person’s death.”

Magee, 19, could have faced up to 25 years in prison if found guilty of second-degree murder.

With the manslaughter charge, he faces 5 to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 29. He is being held in the county jail without bail until sentencing.

Judge Church also found Magee guilty of leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving and failure to keep right.

Magee waived his right to a jury trial with Judge Church making his ruling today after a bench trial concluded on Nov. 19.

Magee was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado truck when crossed over the center lane and went to the north side of McNamar Road on Feb. 8. Kingdollar was driving a dirt bike on the north side of the road.

The truck struck the dirt bike’s handle bars. Kingdollar suffered a fatal fracture in his neck.

During the trial, District Attorney Joe Cardone noted the 9,200-pound truck far outweighed the 236-pound dirt bike.

Cardone said Magee’s actions showed a depraved a indifference to life. A reasonable driver would have slowed down after turning from Angevine Road to McNamar, Cardone said during his closing comments on Nov. 19. But Magee instead sped up until hitting his brakes just before the collision, the DA said.

Paul Vacca Jr., Magee’s defense lawyer, argued in his closing statements that the collision was an accident with no ill intent from Magee.

Cardone said a surveillance video from a neighbor showed Kingdollar riding just north of the road in the grass, doing nothing wrong. Two of his friends on four-wheelers were nearby.

The video shows Magee cross the center line, go past the opposite lane and shoulder of the road and then strike Kingdollar in the grass, Cardone said.

During court today at 1:30 p.m. about 50 people were sitting on the right side of the courtroom for the prosecution, many of them Kingdollar’s friends and family. Magee had about 10 supporters on the left side for the defense.

After Judge Church announced his verdict, Cardone asked that Magee be held without bail until sentencing. D’Amato asked that Magee remain free on bail, saying he has shown up early for all of his court appearances and continued to work full-time.

The judge said Magee will be held without bail. Magee was led out of the courtroom by security personnel, taking a route away from the people sitting in the courtroom.

Cardone spoke with Kingdollar’s supporters in the courtroom after the verdict was announced. He said he would advocate that Magee get the 15 years maximum for second-degree manslaughter.

“We’ll be pushing for the highest sentence we can get,” Cardone said.