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Adding Taxable Property In Jamestown Is A Good Thing

Chautauqua County legislators will consider a resolution to sell three county-owned buildings to a private business this month.

They should do so.

The South County Office Building on East Fourth Street in Jamestown, the Frank W. Bratt Agricultural Center on Turner Road in Ellicott and the Sherman Shop Maintenance Facility on Route 430 are among the facilities proposed to be sold to Jamestown Rental Properties LLC. Discussions began months ago into the potential sale of the South County Office Buildings due to needed repairs to the structure and a desire to place it back on the tax rolls. After sending out a request for proposal, Jamestown Rental Properties came in with a offer to buy the facility for $1.7 million.

The county Health and Human Services personnel would continue to occupy the South County Office Building despite the sale with the county leasing the building for 10 years. Rent would be around $591,000 a year with an annual price escalator of 4 percent. The other two buildings are either vacant or will be vacant with no foreseeable county use.

It is good any time government can put properties back on the tax rolls — particularly in the city of Jamestown, which has a high percentage of tax-exempt property. We hope legislators approve the property sales Wednesday.

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