Erie County Legislature considers expanding senior property tax credit eligibility

Erie County lawmakers are considering raising the income cap for senior property tax credits, but some local officials have concerns.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Erie County Legislature is considering changes to senior property tax credit eligibility that supporters say would provide relief for older homeowners struggling to pay their property taxes.

Erie County Legislator Jeanne Vinal has proposed raising the income cap for seniors to receive the tax credit. The proposal would increase the current cap of about $31,000 to $50,000 as a cost-of-living adjustment.

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New York state also amended its policy to allow individual counties to offer senior property tax exemptions of up to 65% for residents who are below certain income limits.

Vinal said the proposal is intended to help seniors with modest incomes who have spent years in their homes.

“It isn’t supposed to be meant for people who are in dire poverty. It’s supposed to be meant for everyone that is of modest income. It’s meant to be somewhat progressive to have it so that people who are seniors, who spent all their life in their house and now aren’t working, perhaps or have Social Security as their only income and savings, that they can take advantage of that,” said Vinal.

Some local officials have raised concerns about expanding the exemption.

“There’s always trade-offs with these things that. Every dollar that is given out an exemption, whether it’s the volunteer fireman’s exemption or veterans exemptions or religious exemptions or the senior exemptions… every dollar that those folks don’t pay, other folks have to,” said Cheektowaga Town Supervisor Brian Nowak.

Vinal said that if the proposal is approved, it would take effect at the start of next year.