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Money is a funny thing. When you don't have enough, we grumble. When we have too much, folks argue what to do with it. So, it seems to be true with our County Legislature. I've read the various articles and comments in the PJ and Observer for the last few months and it is becoming clear that there are differences of opinion as to how to use the $20 million overage in the fund balance. This is money that is not used in the annual budget but a separate account for emergencies or future projects. As a School Superintendent, this was a common practice. We never knew when a boiler might go down or some unpredicted expense may come along in a given year. It was our financial protection.
I would like to look at this count situation a little differently. Chautauqua County is the 2nd poorest county in NYS per all the reports I have seen. 17.4% of our residents live below the poverty line. If we say there are about 128,000 residents that would mean that roughly 22,272 folks live in poverty.
Throughout my public service career spanning 50+ years, two major issues continue to fester here: the lack of affordable child care and access to flexible transportation for medical services, work, higher education, VA services, etc. It would seem reasonable for the Legislature to have an overall plan as to how to attack poverty in a comprehensive way. Why? A healthier community. Less medical costs. A larger available and educated work force. Less financial stress on parents with young children. Seniors able to live at home. More taxpayers with good jobs.
The $20 million fund balance could be used creatively to address many of the barriers that people face who struggle in poverty. Many of these folks want to work. They want to go to college or get advanced certificates. They want to own their own home. They want to be healthy. Poverty is a complex matter. I encourage the Legislature to spend time to consider a long-range approach to the issue in a 5-10-year plan to start now to raise the county from 2nd poorest to better. The plan could include things already in place as economic development, labor training, tax rate reduction and provide more tax relief to seniors. As well as, find new ways to work with child care centers to cut parental costs, work with outside agencies collaboratively to enhance our present transportation programs and out of state options. Rural residents struggle to get to one place to another at times. Look for duplication of services and reassign funding. It doesn't have to be just one approach.
Sometimes we have to look at things from 30,000' to see things clearly.
Dr. John P. Hamels is a Ripley resident.