Pendleton moving forward
By SJ Nemeth / [email protected]
Tuesday, October 05, 2026

PENDLETON -- All over the state, towns and villages are undecided over whether to impose a surcharge on convictions in justice court.

The "Community on the Canal" is not exempt from broad slashes provided for in this year's state budget that funnel money the town collects from speeding tickets issued on state roads to the state.

At its meeting Tuesday night, the Town Board will hear what its constituents have to say about the possibility of them voting to tack on a $10 fee.

Councilman Gerald Farnham Jr. previously said the town will likely lose between $100,000 and $150,000 in the measure, so the stakes are high.

While justices often reduce speeding tickets to parking violations, this change could result in a revamping of the way the charges are reduced and/or whether to reduce them at all, Town Attorney Andrea Sammarco said.

The board is scheduled to receive a response from state officials regarding traffic fine revenue.

Town Supervisor James Riester said the plan is to add the fee.

"We donŐt really know that the other things that are going to come to fruition as far as having the state repeal its law of having everything given to them, so we need to move forward and try to recover some of the funds that we are going to lose this year, if nothing else, while the law is in effect," he said.



Contact SJ Nemeth at (716) 439-9222, Ext. 6246.



Read more in the Oct. 5 Union-Sun & Journal.
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