Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has unveiled the proposed 2025 county budget, which features a property tax decrease of 11 cents from $3.39 for 2024 down to $3.28 for 2025. 

Poloncarz says this 2025 property tax rate would be the lowest in Erie County’s history and $1.77 lower than Niagara County's.

"I am proud of the work done by my administration and the Division of Budget and Management to once again produce a Proposed Budget that lowers the Property Tax Rate, this time to its lowest-ever point at $3.28. This is a full $1.75 per thousand or 35% less than it was when I took office and county property owners are feeling the relief. This is just one of the highlights of a Budget that stays the course while maintaining investments in programs and services that are important to county residents," said Poloncarz.

The proposed budget also includes a $1.3 million increase in library funding, $2.3 million for Buffalo Convention Center operations, $7.45 million for Visit Buffalo Niagara, nearly $116 million in capital investments for 2025, including $2.6 million for parks improvements, $4.5 million in work at Buffalo & Erie County Central Library, $7 million in countywide technology upgrades, $10 million for SUNY Erie, $15 million in public safety projects and more.

"After taking advantage of an historic influx of resources after COVID with the roll-out of new programs and investments, 2025 is a status-quo budget. It acknowledges the reality of tighter budgets going forward as increases in mandated expenses are coupled with growing revenue constraints," added Poloncarz. "Even so, the Proposed Budget will deliver the programs and services the public relies on/demands in a budget-conscious way that limits spending to below current inflation."