Silver Creek Central School's mourning senior's death last weekend...
The unexpected death of a high school senior has left the Silver Creek Central School district in mourning today. District Superintendent Katie Ralston says in a post on the district's Facebook page -- "it's with profound sadness that I share this news with you. On Sunday night, we learned of the unexpected death of Conor Prince-Rivera, a 12th grade student at our high school. Our most sincere condolences and thoughts go out to Conor’s family and friends." Ralston added that "a student death is a difficult and challenging situation for our entire school community, and can cause a high level of anxiety, distress, and grief for some students." The cause of death has not been released. Ralston says they've developed a crisis response plan and have counselors available in our library for students who may need support.
City Council approves amended, $45-million 2026 budget unanimously...
The Jamestown City Council has approved an amended, 2026 budget that increases taxes by 5.5%... and, uses less of the city's "rainy day" fund. City lawmakers last night approved the budget unanimously with four amendments. One added nearly $349,000 in sales tax revenue... another reduced health insurance by $386,000... and, a third reduces the police and fire retirement contribution by $51,000. Council President Tony Dolce says city leaders decided to use 60% of those savings be put back into the undesignated fund balance... and, the other 40% to reduce the original 7.5%. Dolce says they wanted to boost the fund balance going into an uncertain 2026-27. With the changes... Mayor Kim Ecklund says the city reduced the amount of fund balance used by just over $500,000... and, the tax rate fell by 48-cents per $1,000 assessed value from the original proposal. She says dropping the amount of fund balance used to less than $3-million is important moving forward. The tax rate will increase from $24.23 to $25.76 under the final proposal. The fourth amendment... offered by Councilman Jeff Russell... uses $48,000 in drug "asset-forfeiture" money to purchase a new police vehicle. The mayor has five days in which to either sign... or veto all or parts of the spending plan... which is just over $45-million.
Ecklund says she will likley sign the approved budget... and, focus on next year...
Mayor Ecklund has five business days in which to either sign... or veto all or parts of the spending plan... which is just over 45-million dollars. Following last night's vote... she says she's inclined to sign it soon... saying "there's really nothing to veto." Use of the undesignated fund balance in the 2026 budget had become a real issue for council and the Ecklund administration. While lawmakers used a significant amount of fund balance to lower taxes in the 2025 spending plan... it did not leave a large amount for the rainy day fund for 2026. They're also bracing for more reductions in federal and state aid next year.
Dunkirk facing "devastating" financial picture; State Senator and Mayor discuss...
The latest review of the city of Dunkirks' proposed, 2026 budget by the State Comptroller's Office "paints a devastating picture of the city's finances." That from Senator George Borrello... who is voicing concerns over the findings in the "scathing" 13-page report that was sent last Friday to Mayor Kate Wdowiasz and the Common Council. Those included a projection of at least a $2-million operating deficit by the end of 2025. Borrello says it contradicts prior claims by Wdowiasz's administration that the city will "break even" in the current year. He adds the Comptroller's Office is unable to make "heads or tails" out of the city's finances. The report also finds that due to missing information, the Comptroller's Office has not been able to certify the city's debt, which was a requirement of the City of Dunkirk Fiscal Recovery Act. Because of that report, Borrello says he will renew his push for the city to have a financial control board during the state's 2026 legislative session. In response... Wdowiasz said that the city is taking corrective measures...and maintains her position that a control board specifically for the city does not make fiscal sense. She feels a proposal for a regional control board would be better since some other nearby communities, like Fredonia, are struggling.
James and Comey have criminal cases brought by Special prosecutor dismissed in federal court in Virginia...
New York State Attorney General Letitia James says she is "heartened" by a federal judge's dismissal of the criminal cases against she and former FBI Director James Comey. The judge in Virginia concluded that the prosecutor who brought the charges at President Donald Trump's urging was illegally appointed by the Justice Department. In a statement released late Monday... James said she was "grateful for the prayers and support she had received from around the country. I remain fearless in the face of these baseless charges as I continue fighting for New Yorkers every single day." The rulings by Judge Cameron McGowan Currie amount to a stunning rebuke of the Trump administration's efforts to target Trump's political opponents. It also highlights its legal maneuvering to hastily install a loyalist prosecutor willing to file the cases.
