Members of the Chautauqua Lake Protection and Rehabilitation Agency meet publicly for the first time. They entertained proposals to create a taxing district for the protection and rehabilitation of Chautauqua Lake. The purpose of this agency is to eventually make a recommendation to Chautauqua County Legislature as whether to form a potential district. P-J photo by Eric Zavinski

MAYVILLE — The Chautauqua Lake Protection and Rehabilitation Agency may be the newest lake group on the block, but their purpose is vastly different compared to the various nonprofits and municipalities concerned with the health of Chautauqua Lake.

The CLPRA’s goal: to evaluate the needs of the lake and potentially recommend the formation of a taxing district to help support efforts that would protect and rehabilitate the lake. The Chautauqua County Legislature formed the CLPRA through a resolution, and the CLPRA’s ultimate job will be to deliver a recommendation as to whether the formation of a taxing district would be worthwhile.

Don McCord, director of planning and community development for the county, shared a presentation regarding how a tiered taxing district could work. He also shared plenty of data as to how much money could be raised dependent on different variable tax rates per tier.

In this proposed system, tier one would include all lakefront properties. Tier two would include all adjacent properties that have a view of the lake, and tier three properties would include everything else until the opposite ends of municipal boundaries. All lakeside communities — the towns of Busti, North Harmony, Chautauqua, Ellery and Ellicott; and the villages of Lakewood, Mayville, Bemus Point and Celoron — would be a part of a potential taxing district.

Possible tax rates discussed at Wednesday’s meeting ranged from 5 cents to 65 cents per $1,000 across multiple proposals. The first proposed taxing system would take into account the tiered system prepared.

For example, $394,310 of revenue would be generated if tier one property owners paid 25 cents per $1,000, tier two property owners paid 15 cents per $1,000 and tier three property owners paid 5 cents per $1,000. A total of $145,339 would be raised if all tiers were charged a flat rate of 5 cents per $1,000.

In order to make $1 million, a flat rate of 35 cents per $1,000 would have to be imposed. To raise the same amount in a staggered approach, tier one property owners would have to pay 65 cents per $1,000, tier two property owners would have to pay 42 cents per $1,000 and tier three property owners would have to pay 10 cents per $1,000.

McCord said all data presented was to catalyze discussion among CLPRA members. A potential boat fee was also brought up since it was pointed out that all those who benefit from the lake do not necessarily live in any of the three tiers. Member and Ellicott Town Supervisor Patrick McLaughlin said he’d worry if a boat fee would drive those who visit Chautauqua Lake to fish or boat away from the area.

He also wondered if the impact of a possible taxing district would be enough to justify its existence. CLPRA Chairman and County Legislator Pierre Chagnon said that the taxing district would likely not be recommended if it won’t be perceived to have a “significant impact” on lake health.

“There’s lots of nuances to this,” Chagnon said.

Member and Lakewood Trustee Ellen Barnes wondered if gathered revenue would be distributed based on need or spread equally to each area. Funds would be distributed annually, and the county would be in charge of which lake organizations get the funds.

John Shedd, member and vice president for campus planning and operations at Chautauqua Institution, thinks the tiered system would be the way to go if the taxing district were to become reality because he said everyone gets an economic kick from the lake.

The CLPRA members plan on discussing further on what they specifically what to accomplish at future monthly meetings. Chagnon said he is impressed by the speed the new agency has shown to address the protection and rehabilitation of Chautauqua Lake.