County Legislators Bob Bankoski of Dunkirk and Tom Nelson of Jamestown, both Democrats, are sponsoring a Resolution for the Legislature’s meeting on Wednesday to improve the affordability of living in Chautauqua County.

“The Affordability Act of 2026 has three cost savings for county residents and taxpayers,” Bankoski announced.

Nelson pointed out: “First, our Resolution would cut 2027 county property taxes by $2 million. Second, we make more senior citizen homeowners eligible for the partial real property tax exemption by raising the income eligibility from $30,000 to $38,000. Third, we put the Legislature on record to seek a reduction of the 8% county sales tax to 7 3/4% with more of the sales tax going to cities, towns and villages.”

As of last year, the county had more than $36 million in reserves. None of those funds were used last October to reduce the tax levy, which stands at more than $73 million, after Legislature Republicans approved the $310 million spending plan.

Bankoski observed, “The county has been routinely raising property taxes almost $2 million every year and projects doing so again for 2027. This must stop. With a $35,000,000 Fund Balance or “slush fund” it is time to cut the 2027 County property tax, not raise it yet again. Our homeowners need and deserve this tax break.”

Nelson said, “The $30,000 income limit set by a majority in the Legislature in 2024 is too low. With 4 new Legislators in 2026, it is time to vote to raise the income limit to at least $38,000.”

“For most of the years since the County Sales Tax began in 1968, the county made do with a 7% sales tax. Every two years the County must ask permission of the State to have a sales tax above 7%. As recently as 2011, the County made do with a sales tax of 7 ½%. By reducing the County’s sales tax to 7 ¾% we will save Chautauqua County residents over $100 on the average purchase price of a new vehicle, and we will make Chautauqua County businesses more competitive with Pennsylvania,” Bankoski observed.

“While county government has been unable to get to the bottom of the cause of our high gas prices in Chautauqua County and there is nothing the county can do about inflation in food prices, we can make living in Chautauqua County more affordable by taking the three actions in our “Affordability Act of 2026,” Bankoski and Nelson concluded.