County says “sustainable disposable income growth’ is top goal
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Chautauqua County is declaring "sustainable disposable income growth" the number one economic development goal for county government.
This goal was adopted after a Democratic county lawmaker previously tried to make job creation the top goal.
In June, Legislator Fred Larson of Jamestown introduced a resolution entitled "Declaring Job Creation the number one economic development goal."
Instead of voting on it, Larson's resolution was referred to the Planning and Economic Development Committee, against his wishes.
The legislature took up the original resolution again at its July meeting.
In the resolution, Larson noted job losses at Bush, Monofrax and Serta Mattress, but wanted to add the phrase "since 2022," and correct that 84 jobs were lost with Serta Mattress' closing, instead of 100. For Bush, Larson said there were 230 jobs lost and for Monofrax 79 jobs were lost, both of which were correct.
Larson also wanted to correct the stated number of jobs lost at Carriage House in 2014-15 to be 425, instead of 500, which is what the resolution said.
Larson's request to fix his errors was rejected, mostly along party lines. Only Legislature Chairman Pierre Chagnon, R-Ellery, voted in favor of Larson modifying his original resolution. The other nine Republican legislators present voted against correcting the factual errors.
Larson seemed flabbergasted. "For those of you in the audience, I don't know if I'm happy or sad that you get to see how this legislature can be just as partisan as the House of Representatives," he said.
Immediately following the rejection to fix the errors in the original resolution, a substitute resolution was introduced by Legislator Tom Harmon, R-Silver Creek. It still listed Larson as the sponsor.
Larson then gave a long speech criticizing Republicans, why job layoffs are devastating for entire families, and why projects like solar farms don't help create jobs. "Jobs mean almost everything," he said.
After speaking for nearly 10 minutes, Chairman Chagnon asked Larson to wrap it up, which he did.
Harmon spoke next, saying he felt Larson was "spot on" with some of his points but felt that more information was needed.
Some of the new points in the modified resolution referred to the fact that Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency's supported projects over the last four years have helped create nearly 4,000 permanent and temporary/construction jobs and retain 5,800 existing positions, advancing projects that will generate nearly $2 billion worth of investments, as well as creating nearly 400 new housing units.
Even though the title of the resolution is "Declaring Job Creation Sustainable Disposable Income Growth the Number One Economic Development Goal of Chautauqua County Government," the revised resolution does state, "Resolved that the Chautauqua County Legislature declares private sector and not-for-profit sector Job Creation the Number One Economic Development Goal of County Government and the County of its Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency."
The resolution added that "job creation and retention do not happen without adequate housing, workforce training, shovel-ready sites/infrastructure, and placemaking/quality of life, activities undertaken primarily by the County's Department of Planning & Development in conjunction
with the Chautauqua County Partnership for Economic Growth."
Finally, the resolution notes that that government grants, Payment In Lieu Of Tax agreements, exemptions from sales taxes and mortgage taxes, low interest loans, and taxpayer-funded infrastructure improvements "will continue to be directed at private investments that will support
the creation and retention of jobs for our residents."
During the discussion Legislator Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia, admitted he doesn't know what the resolution will do, other than take a stance.
"I don't see how we can enforce this," he said.
Still, Scudder said he was in favor of the substitute resolution. "It's time we get something done with this," he said.
When the time came to vote to replace Larson's resolution with the substitute resolution, Larson and fellow Democrats, Vince DeJoy of Jamestown, Sandra Lewis of Fredonia, Tom Nelson of Jamestown, and Bob Whitney of Jamestown all voted no. All 10 present Republican legislators and Democratic legislators Bob Bankoski and Marcus Buchanan, both of Dunkirk, voted in favor of the substitution.
After the new resolution was officially substituted, it was unanimously approved.