Ecklund proposes $43.3-million, 2025 budget that increases taxes by more than 7%...
There is a more than 7% tax levy increase in the city of Jamestown's 2025 executive budget proposal by Mayor Kim Ecklund. Ecklund laid out her $43.3-million spending plan at City Hall Tuesday afternoon... noting that it's to make up for a series of miscalculations... and, even omissions from the past one-year-plus. Those have left a $2.5-million shortfall for 2024. Ecklund sayd at least some of that will be made by for by using left-over American Rescue Plan Act funds... and, some undesignated fund balance. She proposes using $1-million in ARPA funds... and, $700,000 from the undesignated fund balance. She adds there are no lay-offs in her proposal. Ecklund adds that the city and others in New York state were able to receive an additional $500,000 in state aid for next year. However... she says sales tax revenues appear to be about $500.000 lower than projected. Ecklund says even with some hard belt-tightening by all departments heads... there is will still be a $1.82 per $1,000 full value tax rate increase in 2025. That's nearly a 7.8% increase.
Dolce and Ecklund lay-out schedule of budget hearings and discussions...
City Council will begin publicly deliberating the 2025 budget plan a week from next Monday... because of the Columbus Day Holiday. Mayor Ecklund and Council President Tony Dolce Monday night reviewed the calendar dates for budget reviews... the public hearing and final vote. Dolce says the first review will be Monday night, Oct. 21 with most smaller departments, along with the city fire and police budgets. Dolce says the sessions will be held prior to the work -- or voting sessions -- at about 6 p.m. those nights. For the Oct. 28 work session... Dolce and Ecklund noted that the City Parks and Public Works Departments spending plans will be reviewed. The third and final review would take place on Monday, Nov. 4, with the Department of Development, and the Fenton History Center that night. The public hearing on the budget is set for Monday, Nov. 18... with a vote set for the following Monday, Nov. 25. Dolce says that -- in addition to Columbus Day -- the city is also losing Monday, Nov. 11... which is Veteran's Day.
Two women arrested on drug and weapons charges during traffic stop...
Two women have been arrested on drug and weapons charges following a traffic stop on Jamestown's northside early Tuesday morning. City police say they saw a gray, four-door sedan commit a traffic infraction on Lakeview Avenue shortly before 3 a.m., and, stopped the car. Officers identified the driver as 34 year-old Heather Brown of Jamestown... and, the passenger was 36 year-old Ashlee Rell of Florida. Police say they found Brown in possession of a quantity of Fentanyl packaged for sale... a quantity of methamphetamine... and a digital scale containing suspected drug residue. Officers searched the vehicle... and, found Rell in possession of a switchblade knife... which is illegal to possess in New York state. Both Rell and Brown taken into custody without incident. Brown is charged with third, fourth and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance...and, criminal use of drug paraphernalia. Rell is charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon... and, was released with an appearance ticket for city court... due to state bail reform. Brown was held pending arraignment.
City man and dog found living in unsanitary conditions inside condemned home...
A Jamestown man has been arrested for allegedly living with his dog inside a condemned residence on the city's southside. Jamestown police say officers responded to a report of subjects trespassing inside the home about 8:30 p.m. Monday... and, on arrival... found Nicholas Sicurella, Sr. inside. Police took Sicurella into custody for third-degree criminal trespass. While checking to see if there was anyone else in the building... officers say they noted an "overwhelming odor" of animal feces and urine throughout the home. They also allegedly found a significant amount of feces and urine all through the home and insects crawling everywhere. They says that was from Sicurella living there unlawfully for some time... and, allowing his dog to defecate all over. Police say the odor from the house was strong enough that nearby neighbors complained of smelling it while at their own homes. In addition to the trespass charge... they say Sicurella was also charged with a "Quality of Life Code" violation for the accumulation of animal feces and urine; creating unsanitary conditions. He was issued appearance tickets for city court.
Jamestown man arrested for two domestic incidents this month...
A city man wanted in connection with an Oct. 5 domestic incident... has been arrested for another one in Jamestown late Tuesday morning. City police say they were called to a southside address about 11 a.m. for an incident involving a female victim. Their investigation found that 36-year-old Shawn Clutter had violated an order of protection to stay away from the woman... and, that Clutter had struck the victim the previous evening... causing bruising and swelling to her eye. He was found at the scene... and, arrested for third-degree assault... second-degree criminal contempt... and, aggravated criminal contempt. Police say Clutter was also arrested on the warrants for the Oct. 5 incident. He was jailed pending arraignment.
