Lawmakers Hold Off on Using Fund Balance to Fill Gap in County's Safety Net Program

The Chautauqua County Legislature will go back to work this month on dealing with a nearly $3 million shortfall in its Safety Net Program. That after lawmakers voted last month to refer a measure to take $2.8 million out of the undesignated fund balance to replenish the program. Westfield Republican Fred Johnson motioned to refer the resolution back to committee, saying he needed more answers about where the money would come from...

Fred Johnson: need to uncover every stone

Johnson says it's a lot of money to take out of the county's "rainy day" fund. Fellow Republican John Penhollow (pictured) agreed, and later said it's a state program of which the county now has to pay 71%. The Stockton lawmaker says that's because those people are no longer eligible for public assistance after five years...

John Penhollow: falls back on county taxpayers

Penhollow says the state contributes about 28% of the cost, while the federal government provides 1%. He says he understands that "people are important," but he adds it "leaves us in a tough spot."

Image and audio from Chautauqua County Government