JAMESTOWN, NY – The County-Wide Shared Services Initiative (CWSSI) generates property tax savings by enabling collaboration between local governments across the state. As indicated by Section 239-bb of the County-Wide Shared Services Initiative (CWSSI), as of January 1, 2022, each county outside of New York City is granted the choice in whether to participate in the CWSSI. County CEO’s are no longer required to annually convene a Panel and develop a new plan or revise and update a previously approved plan.
Based on these program changes, Chautauqua County has decided to opt out of updating the 2021 Chautauqua County County-Wide Shared Services Plan in 2023. The 2021 Plan includes 9 projects which may have been completed in 2022. Chautauqua County views 2022 as a year of implementation and 2023 as a year of applying for the match savings funds.
In 2023, County Executive Paul M. Wendel Jr., along with the Department of Planning and Development, have worked with the project partners and municipal leaders to submit applications in order to receive match funding for savings achieved from the implementation of new shared services actions completed in 2022.
Funds will be disbursed to municipalities with completed projects. In 2024 the County will reassess the 2021 Plan and determine if there are new projects that would be eligible for match funding based on the likelihood of the implementation of these projects taking place in 2025.
For questions or comments on New York State’s County-Wide Shared Services Initiative please email Rebecca Wurster, Chautauqua County Planning Coordinator at wursterr@chqgov.com.
