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Editor's note: This is part of a series of articles on the upcoming Chautauqua County Legislature races.
County Legislative District 10 includes parts of the towns of Busti and Ellicott, the village of Lakewood, and part of the city of Jamestown.
Incumbent Jamie Gustafson is running on the Republican and Conservative lines. She is being challenged by Julie Jackson-Forsberg, who is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines.
The Post-Journal/OBSERVER invited all candidates who are running for the Chautauqua County Legislature to answer two questions:
1) What do you believe that Chautauqua County government has accomplished in the last two years?
2) What are your goals to improve the county?
Gustafson's response to the two questions is as follows:
1) "As the County Legislator for District 10 I have had the privilege of coming alongside my fellow Legislators to maintain financial responsibility in the county by lowering taxes for our constituents without reducing services. State and Federal mandates continue to be a burden on the counties, and we are continually working to find the funding to sustain county business. We are fortunate in Chautauqua County that we have a healthy fund balance to help mitigate the expenses associated with these mandates. Reducing county services is unacceptable and maintaining a healthy fund balance helps to ensure our county residents will continue to receive the services they deserve."
2) "My goals for improving Chautauqua County include utilizing common sense principles in maintaining the current path of fiscal responsibility to benefit the county and its residents."
Jackson-Forsberg's response to the two questions is as follows:
1) "Over the last two years, the current legislature has overtaxed and underperformed for county residents. In the name of fiscally conservative budgeting, the county has established a $37 million reserve fund, which represents 13.6% of the county budget. While the county's reserve fund policy allows for a fund balance between 5% and 15% of the overall budget, a fiscally conservative and healthy fund balance would represent approximately 11% of the budget. We can do both of these things: return money to taxpayers and allocate funding to improve county residents' lives.
Although the county legislature promotes fiscally conservative budgeting, it has approved wasteful spending and failed to safeguard taxpayers' money. The legislature approved the creation of a Media Information Officer position for the County Executive's office, resulting in an annual expense of approximately $100,000. Despite a population decline of 6.5% over the last decade, the county has expanded tax-funded staffing by 19.6%, as reported by The Post-Journal.
The legislature has failed to oversee the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency adequately. Under its watch, the agency made $130,000 worth of 'inappropriate and questionable discretionary' purchases, including $18,000 in local golf course fees.
Over the last year, the county has increased spending on temporary housing from $636,000 to $1.36 million to put people in need of shelter, including those released from the county jail and homeless residents, in local motels. However, the legislature has not put a plan in place to establish adequate supportive and transitional housing. As a result, the legislature has put undue pressure on local communities and cost the county potentially millions of dollars. Addressing the issue of transitional housing alone, the costs of reincarceration are high, including the salaries of county DAs, public defenders, and the costs of incarceration. There would be a greater return on investment to use county funds to put a plan in place to provide housing, case management, and skills development for people in need. I applaud Sheriff Quattrone for bringing the IGNITE program to the county jail. This is, however, only the beginning of the kinds of programming that can turn people's lives around and provide them with a second chance in the community at reduced cost to the taxpayers.
The county has expanded public health services with a mobile clinic to provide outreach to our rural communities. It has also expanded mental health and addiction services by securing a federal grant through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). However, the legislature has not put a plan in place to establish adequate outpatient rehab facilities to address our region's addiction and overdose crisis. Overdose deaths spiked recently. Beyond the human cost of lives lost, the addiction crisis will annually cost the county millions in health care, education, criminal prosecutions, and incarceration.
There have been positive moves by the county legislature as well.
The legislature expanded the South & Center Sewer Agency, a critical infrastructure project for which the county should be commended. This will protect Chautauqua Lake from septic runoff and decrease nutrient loading in the lake.
The legislature supported the Jefferson Project to study Chautauqua Lake and propose effective solutions to protect, restore, and maintain lake conditions. The real test of the legislature will come once solutions are proposed. We need legislative leaders who can collaborate with local conservation groups and municipal governments as well as marshal resources from state and federal governments to - finally - implement a plan.
The legislature passed a $3 per gallon cap on the county's gasoline sales tax proposed by Legislator Parker (D-Fredonia) to ease the burden of inflation for county residents. The Republican majority in the legislature chose to expire the tax cap on Dec. 1, 2022.
The legislature passed a motion denouncing racism and recognizing 'that a diverse and inclusive environment benefits everyone by promoting understanding, empathy and a sense of belonging.' While this is a good start, supportive words in June have not resulted in concrete action."
2) "We are a county in need of a vision for the future. We need leaders who see and engage with the problems around us, work together to formulate solutions, and take action.
If elected to the legislature, one of my priorities would be to return money to county residents and decrease their tax burden. The largest percentage of voters who talk with me about issues important to them bring up taxes. Our county population includes a large number of older residents on fixed incomes and families who struggle to make ends meet. As The Post-Journal has noted, our current county legislators 'are not looking out for taxpayers who happen to live in one of the poorest counties in the state.' Reducing residents' tax burden can help keep people in their homes and improve their quality of life.
At the same time, I would prioritize funding to support important issues facing the county. Some of the greatest needs we face include population loss, job creation, and drug addiction. To attract new residents and provide good jobs, we need to invest in business, both large and small. Shovel-ready sites to attract large employers are important, especially near the population centers in Jamestown and Dunkirk-Fredonia. So, too, are small businesses, which contribute to the culture and character of the area, help us sustain tourism, and encourage residents to invest in our communities.
Drug addiction and overdose deaths are issues that affect every district in this county. I would collaborate with others, including elected leaders, community groups, and residents, to create a proactive plan to expand rehab facilities as well as establish supportive and transitional housing.
I would seek a road safety audit of county roads that are known hazards. District 10 contains one of the most dangerous intersections in the county at Baker Street and Southwestern Drive.
We can improve road safety by assessing speed limits and stop control as well as building on Complete Streets initiatives already underway in parts of the county.
Finally, I would prioritize active communication with residents. District 10, in particular, includes voting wards in the city of Jamestown, the village of Lakewood, and the towns of Busti and Ellicott. The legislator for this district has the opportunity to act as a liaison between county government and local municipal governments. I also believe that our residents should know more about the issues and decisions facing the county legislature. To that end, I would prioritize making myself available and accessible for people to ask questions and raise concerns. If elected, I would hold regular office hours and make myself available in public forums such as farmers' markets at least once per month."