Emergency rooms also treat more people with drug overdose

Provided photo: Melissa Vinyard, a peer advocate at GCASA, shares her story of recovery at Wednesday’s Overdose Awareness Day at Austin Park in Batavia. Vinyard said drugs and alcohol use nearly killed her, but she sought help and now has been sober since Dec. 30, 2017.

By Mike Pettinella, GCASA Publicist

BATAVIA – Over the 12 months prior to September of 2020, there were 90,237 opioid overdose deaths in the United States – a 30 percent increase from the previous year.

In 2020, there were 15 overdose deaths in Genesee County and seven in Orleans County.

Those staggering figures reveal the extent of the epidemic that continues to devastate society.

Healthcare and mental health professionals in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties on the front lines of this scourge came together on Wednesday afternoon at Austin Park for the annual International Overdose Awareness Day observance.

Representatives of a dozen agencies plus area residents whose lives have been affected by opioid use attended the event, which was to raise awareness and to remember those who have been lost due to an overdose.

Genesee/Orleans Public Health Director Paul Pettit shared that in 2020, 58 people from Genesee County went to the emergency room and 38 from Orleans went to the ER due to drug overdoses – both up from 2019.

“That can be attributed to Covid; people were isolated and feeling alone,” he said.

Pettit had encouraging words about the efforts of the GOW Opioid Task Force, an organization comprised of people from various sectors of the community.

“We’ve been working together for many years and are making great strides,” he said, mentioning an increase in the access to care and the amount of Narcan training being done. “We want to get more people trained. We have a medication that can save lives.”

He said that since 2018, about 3,500 people have been trained.

“We’re making gains but we still have a ways to go,” he said.

John Bennett, executive director of Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, spoke about the impact of Overdose Awareness Day throughout the world, noting that events such as the one in Batavia are taking place throughout the state and in around 40 countries.

International Overdose Awareness Day was created in 2001 by Sally J. Finn at The Salvation Army in St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia.

“As we come together today, not only think about those locally who have lost their lives, but this is a worldwide problem that’s killed over a million people,” he said.

Agencies taking part in the event included GO Health, Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Erie County Health Department, Spectrum Human Services, The Recovery Station, Wyoming County Mental Health, Fidelis Care, Rochester Regional Healthy, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Horizon Health.

GOW Opioid Task Force Coordinator Christen Ferraro said the Old County Courthouse in Batavia will be lit up on Aug. 31 and signs commemorating awareness day will be placed in the front of the building.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday approved a five-year contract with 170 employees in the CSEA union.

The agreement doesn’t give any raises for 2020 through June of 2021. However, the employees will all get 50-cent hourly raises effective June 1, 2021, and then a 4 percent increase on top of that for the rest of 2021.

The agreement then gives the workers 2 percent annual increases in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

The 50-cent hourly wage increase was implemented due to minimum wage being hiked up to $12.50 an hour. The county needed to increase starting hourly pay for custodians and housekeepers from $11.94 to $12.73 due to the state increase in the minimum. That also prompted the county to increase the other wages to stay more competitive in the local labor market.

The new contract was delayed with uncertainty during the Covid-19 pandemic. The county last year had 20 percent of state reimbursements withheld, and there were concerns over a loss of sales tax revenue.

The state cuts eventually were at 5 percent, the county ended the year with a big increase in sales tax last year –up by 9.2 percent, from $17.7 million in 2019 to $19.4 million in 2020. For part of the year, however, sales tax revenues were lagging when many businesses were forced to close for in-person customers.

The county also implemented a temporary voluntarily workforce reduction of 40 employees last year due to concerns about plummeting revenue.

All of those issues made it challenging to craft a long-term labor agreement, said Jack Welch, the county’s chief administrative officer. He remains concerned about revenue in the future from the state and federal governments, especially if the pandemic is drawn out.

The new contract increases the deductibles for employees from $1,500 for a single heath insurance plan to $2,500, and $3,000 for a family plan to $5,000.

However, there are health reimbursement accounts at $1,400 for employees with single plans (with the county also eligible to be reimbursed $1,100 for those plans) and $2,800 for employees with family plans (county eligible for up to $2,200). Those accounts have the potential to reduce out-of-pocket costs for employees and also drive down some of the county’s health insurance costs, Welch said.

Businesses encouraged to apply for grants up to $50,000

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul announced changes to New York State’s $800 million Covid-19 Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program that will enable more small businesses to apply for funding.

Starting on Wednesday, businesses with revenues up to $2.5 million can apply for grants, up from the previous threshold of $500,000. Additionally, the limitation for businesses that received Federal Paycheck Protection Program loans has been increased from $100,000 to $250,000.

“Supporting the small businesses across our state that got hit hard by the pandemic is a top priority for my administration,” Governor Hochul said. “We simply cannot have a full economic recovery if the small business community continues struggling to survive. With the Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program opening up to a greater pool of businesses, I strongly urge all the owners who qualify to submit their application so they can access this funding.”

Launched in June, the program initially focused on small and micro-businesses across New York State, which were largely left out of federal business recovery initiatives. Empire State Development and its partners have worked hard ensure that these businesses have the technical assistance – including guidance during the application process and support to overcome language barriers – they need to be first in line for this program.

To date, more than $48 million has been awarded to over 2,380 small and micro-businesses in all ten regions of the state. The modifications announced today ensure additional small businesses can more quickly access funding through the program.

Empire State Development and Lendistry, the minority-led Community Development Financial Institution that was selected to administer the program, will continue to accept and review applications. All current applicants – those who have not finished their applications, have not uploaded documents or have incomplete documentation – are encouraged to finalize their applications as soon as possible. Previously ineligible small businesses may start applying today, and those applications will start being processed on Wednesday, September 8. More information, including program guidelines and the grant application, can be found by clicking here.

Grants for a minimum award of $5,000 and a maximum award of $50,000 are calculated based on a New York State business’ annual gross receipts for 2019. Reimbursable Covid-19 related expenses must have been incurred between March 1, 2020 and April 1, 2021 and can include payroll costs; commercial rent or mortgage payments for New York State-based property; payment of local property or school taxes; insurance and utility costs; costs of personal protection equipment necessary to protect worker and consumer health and safety; costs for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or other machinery and equipment; and supplies and materials necessary for compliance with Covid-19 health and safety protocols.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: The Woodams family from Center Road, Kendall, pose in front of their hops field, which is nearly ready to harvest. From left are son Ethan, Kim and John Woodams and longtime family friend and helper Frank Mandigo.

KENDALL – Growing hops is a family venture for John and Kim Woodams of Center Road, and one which they are eager to promote any way they can.

On Tuesday, the Woodams hosted the first hops festival at their farm, in hopes of sharing their passion for the crop.

More than 100 breweries across New York state were invited, according to Kim Woodams. However, while many responded, most could not attend because of the shortage of laborers, they said.

“There is a high demand for hops, but we can’t find anybody to work,” said Josh Kimm, owner of Skaneateles Brewery. “With college kids looking at getting their school loans paid for by the government, why would they want to work?”

The Woodams are fortunate to have a family friend of more than 60 years, Frank Mangio, who helps any way he can, as do the Woodams children.

The Woodams have 10 acres of hops and plan to plant five more acres next year.

Larry Smart, a professor of Horticulture and Plant Breeding at Cornell University, attended the Woodams’s hops festival with Chris Gerling, a senior Extension Associate in the Department of Food Service at Cornell.

Smart explained the increase in popularity of growing hops is due to the laws being passed requiring brewers to buy a certain percent of hops from local growers. That number is currently 60 percent, but will increase to 90 percent in 2024.

He went on to say most hops grown in New York come from out west and don’t do well in New York’s climate. Hops grow well in the Pacific Northwest, because the climate is so dry. He said Cornell is trying to create hops that will grow well here in New York’s shorter growing season.

Several individuals interested in growing hops attended a hops festival Tuesday at the home of John and Kim Woodams. Checking out samples of the varieties the Woodams grow are, clockwise from left, Chris Gerling, a senior Extension associate in the Department of Food Service at Cornell; Josh Kimm, owner of the Skaneateles Brewery; Larry Smart, professor of Horticulture and Plant Breeding at Cornell; John Woodams; and son Ethan Woodams.

In spite of New York’s climate not being the most ideal for growing hops, their popularity is attributed to the fact people want local ingredients in their beer, along with the laws requiring brewers use a certain amount of locally grown hops.

Smart said he had never worked with hops before and attended the Woodams’ hops festival to learn as much as he could.

“I am happy to take this opportunity to learn from the growers,” Smart said.

Ken Greenwood of Avon accepted the Woodams’ invitation because he hopes to build or buy a brewery and wants to learn as much as he can about the industry.

“If I can buy a brewery, it will be between Buffalo and Syracuse, but if I have to build, it will be in Livingston County,” he said.

It was also revealed that the Cooperstown area was one of the original hops growing regions in New York state, due to the fact the Anheuser-Busch family once had a vacation home there and grew hops.

The Woodams planted their first hops five years ago and harvested a few last year. This year will be their first major crop, John said. They plan to start harvesting the first of the vines in about a week.

Concluding the hops festival was a catered lunch provided by the Woodams and sampling of several varieties of craft beers from the Skaneateles Brewery.

Photo by Tom Rivers: What I think is a cormorant is perched up high in the widewaters section of the Erie Canal along Presbyterian Road, east of Knowlesville, on Wednesday.

For the second straight day a heat advisory is in effect for Orleans County until 7 p.m.

The temperature is forecast to reach 88, but the heat index values will be in the mid to upper 90s, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

The advisory also includes Niagara, Monroe, northern Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Wayne, northern Cayuga, Oswego and Ontario counties.

The Weather Service said the hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur.

ROYALTON — The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of a woman who was killed after a head-on collision on Tuesday afternoon on Royalton Center Road.

Linda Drum, 58, of Royalton was pronounced dead at the scene of the 1:18 p.m. crash. Drum was southbound when she crossed the center line and hit a northbound vehicle head on, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Joshua Riley, 18, of Albion was in the northbound vehicle. He was taken to Eastern Niagara Hospital by Tri Town Ambulance for non-life threatening injuries.

The cause of the accident is being investigated by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Accident Investigation Unit.

Judy Spencer, 65, was very dedicated to Hartland Volunteer Fire Company past 20 years

Photos by Tom Rivers: The Hartland Volunteer Fire Company is in mourning following the death of long-time volunteer firefighter Judy Spencer, who was killed when she was struck and run over by a Barker fire truck on Tuesday night.

HARTLAND – A Hartland firefighter who was killed in the line of duty on Tuesday night was one of the most dedicated members of the Hartland Volunteer Fire Company.

Niagara County Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti and Jonathan Schultz, director of Emergency Services & Fire Coordinator for Niagara County, speak during a news conference today at the Hartland Volunteer Fire Company.

Judy Spencer, 65, was struck and run over by a fire truck on Tuesday night, She responded to a scene of a hay bale fire in Somerset on Quaker Road, north of Route 18.

She was serving as a spotter for a Barker Fire Department rescue truck that was backing up. She was struck and run over at about 8:40 p.m. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

“I would say this is a tragic, tragic accident,” said Niagara County Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti during a news conference this afternoon outside the Hartland fire hall on Ridge Road.

Spencer had been a volunteer with Hartland for at least 20 years, said Bryan Ames, the Hartland fire chief.

“She was a great person,” he said. “She was very reliable. She was one of our top responders.”

Filicetti said the truck was inspected and no mechanical issues or problems were discovered. He didn’t fault the driver, stressing several times it was a “tragic accident.” He doesn’t expect any charges to be filed but an investigation is continuing.

Spencer’s death is the first line-of-duty death for a firefighter in Niagara County since 2012, said Jonathan Schultz, director of Emergency Services & Fire Coordinator for Niagara County.

He said about a dozen fire companies were called to the scene Tuesday night for 50 hay bales on fire. Firefighters were on scene until about midnight.

Hartland is currently not responding to any calls while the members grieve the loss of a much-loved firefighter.

“It’s a very challenging time for us,” Ames said.

Hartland also is mourning the death of one of its charter members. Merle Snell, 89, died on Aug. 21 and was a very active volunteer for Hartland for several decades.

Hartland Fire Chief Bryan Ames said Judy Spencer was among the most dedicated volunteers in the fire company.

Angel Gonzalez-Rodriguez, left, and Jeffrey VanEpps

ALBION – Two men have been charged with assault after getting in a fight with knives last night in the Village of Albion.

Albion police officers and the Orleans County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to 110 West Bank St. at 10:54 p.m. after a report of two men fighting with knives, and one with a laceration to the face.

Upon arrival, Albion Police were flagged down by a 35-year-old man suffering from a stab wound to the right leg, Albion Police Chief David Mogle said.

The Albion Fire Department and the Medina Ambulance responded to the scene and treated the 35-year-old man. The Medina Ambulance transported the man to Strong Memorial Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries due to the stab wound.

Albion police officers were given a description of the suspect and where the suspect lived. The Albion PD, with the assistance of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, took the suspect into custody without incident.

Jeffrey VanEpps, 43, of Albion was charged with one count of Assault in the 2^nddegree, one count of criminal possession of a weapon 4th, one count of Menacing 1st and one count of disorderly conduct. VanEpps was remanded to Orleans County Jail for CAP Court.

After further investigation, it was determined that the individual stabbed in the leg named Angel Gonzalez- Rodriguez, 35, of Albion had initially been involved in a fight with VanEpps over a cell phone, Mogle said. The two are neighbors.

During the fight Gonzalez-Rodriguez attempted to stab VanEpps, causing a minor laceration to VanEpps’ forehead, Mogle said.

Gonzalez-Rodriguez was later released from Strong Memorial Hospital and charged by the Albion Police Department with one count of attempted assault 2nd, one count of criminal possession of a weapon 4th, one count of menacing 2nd, one count of harassment 2nd and one count of sisorderly conduct.

“The Albion Police Department believes that this was an isolated incident between the two involved individuals and that there is no immediate further threat to the Albion community,” Mogle said.

“The Albion Police Department would like to thank the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, Albion Fire Department, and the Medina Ambulance for their prompt response to assist with this incident,” he said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: This banner displayed in May 2020 by City Hall features Dell Stork, who served with the Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He later served as Medina’s fire chief.

MEDINA – A new group of Hometown Hero banners will go up in Medina next year. Mary Woodruff, coordinator of the effort, is planning for 40 new banners.

Those ones will replace the 38 in the first group of banners that went up in 2019 as well as two others. The ones being cycled out after three years will be given to the original sponsors.

After 38 were displayed in the first group in 2019, 69 were added in 2020 and then 132 this year for 231 total. Most of the banners are on a three-year cycle, and they are in different spots each of the three years.

The banners go up in May before Memorial Day and come down in November just after Veterans’ Day.

The 38 original banners will be given back to the sponsors on Nov. 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Village Office. Those unable to stop by to pick up the banner can have it mailed to them at cost.

Applications for new banners in 2022 will be available by Aug. 31 through heroesofmedina.com. That website includes options for people to donate to the Hometown Heroes, with funds going to some of the costs beyond the expense of the banners and to help pay some of the cost of a banner and hardware for families and friends who don’t have the full amount.

Woodruff also is working on a printed yearbook of Medina Hometown Heroes.

SOMERSET – A member of the Hartland Volunteer Fire Company was killed on Tuesday night when a fire truck backed into her at the scene of a field fire.

The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office said a Barker Fire Department rescue truck was backing southbound on Quaker Road at 8:38 p.m. when it struck and ran over a fire police member from the Hartland department. That fire police member was acting as a spotter for the vehicle driver.

The fire police member succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the rescue truck was uninjured, the Sheriff’s Office stated in a news release.

The names of the parties involved are being withheld at this time pending notification of family. Investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Accident Investigation Unit is continuing.

New governor also wants teachers to be vaccinated or tested weekly

Gov. Kathy Hochul delivers an address to New Yorkers at the State Capitol this afternoon. (Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

Gov. Kathy Hochul, in her first address as governor of New York, said fighting the spread of Covid will be a top priority especially with the start of a new school year.

Hochul said the state will be requiring masks for students, and she is pursuing options to have teachers and staff either be vaccinated or tested weekly for Covid.

“My number one priority is getting children back to school and protecting the environment so they can learn safely,” Hochul said. “I am immediately directing the Department of Health to institute universal masking for anyone entering our schools, and we are launching a Back to School Covid-19 testing program to make testing for students and staff widely available and convenient.”

Hochul said the state will use $335 million in federal funds for the Covid “Testing in Schools Program” in partnership with local health departments and BOCES in New York State outside of New York City. In addition, New York City has received $225 million directly for Covid testing in the schools.

The state also is launching a back-to-school Covid testing program in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rite Aid and BioReference to make testing more widely available. Testing appointments will be available to students in grades K-12 at the 115 Rite Aid drive-through locations.

In addition to the new testing programs, the state has more than 4.3 million child-sized clothed face masks, about 10 million adult-sized clothed face masks and almost 55 million non-surgical face masks to provide to students and teachers in schools across the state.

Andy Pallotta, president of the New York State United Teachers, issued a statement in support of Hochul’s announcement.

“Gov. Kathy Hochul brings a breath of fresh air to Albany, and she already is taking decisive action to bolster health and safety in our schools,” Pallotta said. “We support universal mask wearing as part of a layered mitigation strategy that also includes robust Covid testing, contract tracing, proper ventilation and other strategies recommended by public health experts. We also support the governor’s move to require regular Covid testing for school staff who are not yet vaccinated. It’s critical that educators continue to have a voice in the implementation of vaccine requirements and other Covid policies at the local level.”

State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said 95 percent of the Covid cases currently in the state are confirmed to be the Delta variant. He said the Covid cases in the state are up 10-fold since early July.

“While a simple measure of prevention, requiring masks now is crucial for protecting the health of our children and ensuring we can get our students back in their schools this fall,” Zucker said in a statement.

Hochul said other top priorities will be boosting vaccination rates throughout the state so fewer people and communities are at risk of Covid. She also will push to make Covid booster shots available and distributed quickly and reliably, which could mean reopening mass vaccination sites.

She also said Covid relief money for renters, landlords and workers has been secured for the state but hasn’t been fully released.

“I am not at all satisfied with the pace that this Covid relief is getting out the door,” she said. “I want the money out—and I want it out now. No more excuses and delays.”

The state will be hiring more staff to process applications to get the relief funds to landlords, renters and people through the Excluded Workers Fund.

Hochul also vowed for a “dramatic change in culture” in the way Albany operates. She is directing an overhaul of state government’s policies on sexual harassment and ethics. All training will be done live in person, instead of allowing people to click their way through a class, she said.

She also said the state government would be more transparent with an expedited process to fulfill all Freedom of Information Act requests “as fast as possible.”

She also is signing an executive order requiring ethics training for every state employee.

“To recap, these are the highest priorities of my Administration in its first days: combatting Delta, getting direct aid to New Yorkers more quickly, and beginning to change the culture in Albany,” Hochul said.

ROYALTON – The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office is reporting a fatal accident today on Royalton Center Road at 1:18 p.m.

There was a 2-vehicle accident in front of 4955 Royalton Center Rd. Preliminary investigation shows that one vehicle crossed over the center line while traveling south on Royalton Center Road.

The second vehicle was traveling north on the road and was unable to avoid the first vehicle. The vehicles collided head on.

The driver of first vehicle was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the vehicle traveling northbound was transported to Eastern Niagara Hospital by Tri Town Ambulance for non-life threatening injuries.

The investigation is continuing by the Niagara County Accident Investigation Unit. The names of the drivers involved are being withheld at this time pending notification of the families, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory in Orleans County on Wednesday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. when heat index values as high as 100 are expected.

The advisory also includes Niagara, Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Wayne, northern Erie, northern Cayuga, Oswego and Ontario counties.

The temperatures near or above 90 and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur, the Weather Service said.

The highs for the rest of the week include 85 on Thursday, 76 on Friday and 82 on Saturday.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Kathy Hochul is shown at the Erie Canal in Albion in this photo from 2012 when she represented the community in Congress. Hochul is very familiar with the local small towns and many of the elected officials.

Kathy Hochul takes the reins as governor of the state today. She is facing major challenges on many fronts, including the reopening of schools in a safe manner during the Covid pandemic.

Many businesses still are reeling from the pandemic and state-imposed restrictions last year. The economy has been battered, especially in New York City which is fueled by so many tourists and the travel industry.

The rural areas of the state are seeing a major population exodus. Orleans County is down 5.9 percent of its population from 2010 t0 2020, or a drop of 2,540 people from 42,883 in 2010 to 40,343 in 2020. The percentage loss is the steepest in Western New York and among the highest in the state, where 39 out of 62 counties lost population, despite an overall increase of population of nearly 800,000 in the state. Those gains were mainly in the bigger counties.

Hochul will give an address at 3 p.m. today, outlining her priorities as governor. She won’t have much of a grace period. She is filling out a term that ends in about 16 months on Dec. 31, 2022. The gubernatorial race has already kicked into gear for next year. Hochul is the 57^th governor in the past 244 years and the first woman.

She is also a rare statewide official from Upstate New York, and even more rare are her connections and knowledge of small town New York.

Soon after she became lieutenant governor in January 2015, Hochul reached out to me to talk about Orleans County. We met at the Village House in Albion. She meets with many people in diners across the state.

My top issue for her to consider was the gross disparity in AIM funding, or Aid and Incentives to Municipalities. The Orleans Hub has written about this often with charts showing how little local villages receive compared to cities, despite offering similar services. (Click here to see a previous article about the AIM disparity.)

Villages with police and fire departments receive about $7 per capita in AIM, while cities with similar levels of services receive well over $100. In Buffalo’s case, the per capita aid is over $600. In the Village of Albion, it’s $6.41, about 1 percent of what Buffalo gets. Bumping the villages up to $100 per person in AIM funding would result in about a 20 to 25 percent tax reduction for the local villages.

The AIM rates should be tied to a level of services offered by a village or town, and should also consider a community’s wealth. The state ties its school aid to a community wealth ratio. If it did in a similar way with AIM, our most poverty-stricken areas – the villages – would get significant relief.

The AIM distribution hasn’t improved for towns and villages under the Cuomo Adminsitriation. In fact, he made it worse by grabbing some of the sales tax from counties and using that to pay part of the town and village AIM share, instead of using state funds. In this case he robbed from the poor to pay the destitute.

I’ve brought AIM up to Hochul other times over the years when she makes local appearances. She has cited state attention for the small towns through the $750 million annually available through the regional economic development councils. Some of that money includes $10 million for downtowns on an upswing. Medina has tried for this grant several times but has been denied so far.

The regional economic development grants are a competitive process, with communities vying against each other for the money. The grants tend to go to wealthier municipalities which have an army of city managers, economic development specialists, grant writers and in-house engineers. They can put together more compelling aplications.

In Orleans County, none of the villages or towns have administrators or dedicated economic development staff. The county as a whole has a staff of three working on attracting and retaining businesses. The regional economic development councils have favored the communities with more resources.

A simple way to helping the small towns would be giving them more AIM funding, at levels close to what the cities are getting.

Just look at the villages of Albion and Medina. In the 2010 census Albion had 6,056 people and Medina was at 6,065. Albion receives $38,811 in AIM or $6.41 per capita. Medina gets $45,523 or $7.51 per person.

The City of Sherrill, the state’s smallest city with 3,071 people in Oneida County, receives $372,689 or $121.35 per capita. Another small city, Salamanca in Cattaraugus County, gets $928,131 for a city of 5,815 people or $159.61 per capita.

Orleans County has the added disadvantage of not having a city in the county so none of our municipalities get propped up by the state with AIM funding. That hurts us when all of the neighboring counties have at least one city, where the property taxes are much lower than in our villages, mainly due to the state’s AIM formula.

This is an issue that should be near the top of the agenda for Hochul if she wants to help give the villages and smaller counties a fighting chance.