MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County officials are going on record in support of the recently enacted Local Journalism Sustainability Act.

During the recent county legislature meeting, lawmakers voted 15-3 to pass a motion calling on elected officials in New York State to support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act.

Some of those who voted against the motion said they did so, not because they were opposed to the newly adopted Local Journalism Act, but rather felt the motion was unnecessary, since the tax credit is already part of the state budget.

Before the legislature’s April meeting, Legislator Terry Niebel, R-Sheridan, prefiled a motion calling on state officials to support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act. The weekend before the county legislature meeting, the state adopted the 2024-25 state budget, which included the Journalism Sustainability Act.

The night of the legislature meeting, Niebel submitted a revised motion, expressing support for the Local Journalism Sustainability Act, saying he wants state officials to know the county supports the decision.

Motions have no legal authority, but are designed to show an elected body’s position on a specific topic.

Legislator Susan Parker, D-Fredonia, felt that was a waste of time.

“I am fully supportive of this Local Journalism Sustainability Act and of our local newspapers and the 200 newspapers across New York, but I don’t see a reason for spending the time and money to create a motion that in fact serves no purpose,” she said.

Niebel disagreed.

“I believe there are some efforts in the House (of Representatives) to have some sort of corresponding legislation nationally, pertaining to the Journalism Sustainability Act, so I think what we do here this evening, it could lend support to legislation that might be coming nationally,” he said.

Voting against the motion were Legislators Parker, Bob Bankoski, D-Dunkirk, and Fred Larson, D-Jamestown.

The Local Journalism Sustainability Act, which is $30 million per year for three years, allows each eligible newspaper and broadcast business to receive a 50% refundable tax credit against the first $50,000 of an employee’s salary, up to a total of $300,000 per business. Of the $30 million total, $4 million will be allocated to incentivize print and broadcast businesses to hire new journalists. The remaining $26 million will be split evenly between businesses with fewer than 100 employees and those with more than 100 employees, ensuring that hyperlocal, independent news organizations have a fair shot at access to these funds.

Another motion proclaiming May 14, 2024 as Apraxia Awareness Day in Chautauqua County was unanimously approved by the county legislature.