BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Erie County Legislature has ruled unanimously in favor of a resolution offering tax relief to homeowners.
The resolution will offer a 4.75% reduction to homeowner bills, reducing the property tax levy by one million dollars for next year's budget. This decision eliminates a formerly implemented sales tax by the county, and will apply to electricity, natural gas, propane, heating, oil, wood and coal costs.
Given the size of one's residence, the difference could range between $8 and $20. Though not all residents are guaranteed to see a decrease, most are likely to see a stabilizing or declining of their property tax bills.
The resolution will also eliminate tax on home energy bills in the high-cost winter months of December, January, and February. Erie County Legislator Howard Johnson says this resolution will allow residents to enjoy a "straight cost" on their bills for the next few months without worrying about additional taxes.
"Heating costs have been continuously rising, that is not stabilized. Any opportunity we have to give the homeowner some relief, that's what we're looking to do." said Johnson.
Minority Leader John Mills agrees, describing the tax cut as a "significant win" for Erie County residents who received their last tax reduction over two decades ago in 2001. With the country gaining an influx of government money over the last two years, he believes now is the right time to take that money and give it back to Erie County residents.
"It tells people that we're on the right track to try to bring those dollars back to them. These are homeowners and apartment complex people that pay that tax on land and property. That's significant to residents," Mills said.