Legislator, District 5· 2026-01-01–2026-12-31 (one-year term: legislators elected in 2025 serve one year under the state even-year election law per Post-Journal October 2025; all 19 seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot per WRFA; term begins January 1, 2026 per N.Y. Public Officers Law § 4, 1 and ends December 31, 2026; predecessor terms expired 12/31/2025 per Chautauqua County Board of Elections 'Offices Up for Election 2025'; winners per BOE GE25 Winner's List; start shown is the current-term start)
Jason Merritt
Chautauqua County
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 3
- Total speaking time
- 0:43
- Avg per meeting
- 0:14
- Segments
- 18
Want every word Merritt has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Merritt said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (8)(Business Jobs)
Management Benefit Plan and Retirement Health Insurance
Range adjustments do not directly increase salaries or total departmental budgets, leaving actual pay decisions within approved departmental spending limits.
County Clerk Software Vendor RFPs and DMV Operations
The position is budget-neutral and filled by promoting existing staff from within.
Southern Tier West Regional Planning & Economic Development Update
Southern Tier West brings in approximately $750,000 annually in ARC grants and administers various state and federal programs.
Tourism Promotion and Economic Impact
Appropriates $200,000 from the 3% occupancy tax reserve to leverage $550,000 in state funds.
Dawson Metal Infrastructure Funding Request
A bridge replacement or access road would cost between $1 million and $4.7 million.
Feedmore Western New York Capital Facility Funding Request
Potential capital contribution from the county toward a regional facility.
Legislative Involvement in Collective Bargaining
None directly, but aims to better control labor contract financial outcomes.
I-90 Peterman's Memorial Commerce Park Infrastructure (Ripley)
Involves a $720,000 county capital fund transfer toward a broader $16 million infrastructure project.
Decisions during term (0)
Recorded while Merritt was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
No decisions found matching Business Jobs.
Voting record (0)(Business Jobs)
No votes found matching Business Jobs.