(This story was updated to accurately reflect the most current information.)
Erie County Executive Christina Vogel is proposing no increase in county taxes in 2027.
Vogel’s proposed $565,356,846 general fund budget — up about 2.9% from the current year — would be balanced instead with $4,550,386 from the county’s unrestricted reserve fund.
If the budget is approved by Erie County Council, the property tax rate would remain at 6.94 mills, or $694 for a property with an assessed value of $100,000.
In outlining the proposed budget on Sept. 30, Vogel said that streamlined operations, spending less than amounts budgeted through the year in spite of inflation, and the elimination of some long-vacant positions has helped the county reduce overhead and increase efficiency without employee layoffs.
Erie County Executive Christina Vogel presents her proposed 2027 county budget at the Erie County Courthouse on Sept. 30.
The proposed budget focuses spending on essential services and expands the county’s commitment to emergency medical services, Vogel said.
“This budget keeps county government centered on what it does best — public safety, public health and efficient delivery of services while avoiding new programs outside our core responsibilities,” Vogel said.
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The county fund balance
There was more than $51.3 million in the county’s unrestricted reserve fund at the end of 2025, according to audited financial statements. And that amount has since grown, Vogel said.
Using almost $4.6 million in reserve funds rather than a tax increase to balance the 2027 budget will help county taxpayers cope with other costs, Vogel said.
“These are difficult times with prices rising substantially, the city likely to increase taxes and many school districts raising taxes,” Vogel said.
The new capital reserve fund
Vogel’s proposed budget includes a first-time capital reserve fund approved by Erie County Council in September.
The fund has $5 million allocated for maintenance, upgrades and critical improvements to county buildings and other assets.
The fund initially will cover long-deferred projects, including the replacement of aging and malfunctioning elevators at the Erie County Courthouse. All five elevators have been been out of service at times, and at times, no elevators are working, Vogel said.
The elevators were installed in the 1970s. The estimated cost to replace them is approximately $2.25 million.
The long-term goal for the new capital reserve fund is to add money to the account annually to keep up with building needs, Vogel said.
Jobs and wages
Employee wage increases of $1.19 per hour or 4%, whichever is higher, are included in the proposed budget.
“Our employees are our most valuable asset, and their wages have not kept up with inflation,” Vogel said.
Total employee wage and benefits costs for 2027 are budgeted at just over $113.4 million. That cost will be about $4.5 million lower, Vogel said, if 4% of county jobs are vacant for some time in 2027, as they historically have been.
Nine positions that were never filled or have been vacant for some years have been eliminated from the budget.
Emergency medical services
The county’s expanded commitment for emergency medical services will include the roll-out of a revolving loan fund available to local emergency service providers and other first responders, Vogel said.
The $1.4 million fund created by Erie County Council earlier this year will provide low-interest loans for emergency vehicles, equipment and gear. Loans may also be used as matching funds for grants.
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Members of the Erie County community sit in attendance during the Sept. 11 memorial ceremony that took place on the morning of Sept. 11, 2026, the 25-year mark of the tragic events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001. (Nicholas Sorensen/Erie Times-News)
The county additionally will work with the Erie County Community College when it launches an emergency medical services program in January, Vogel said. County help could include student scholarships.
‘Open dialogue and true partnership’
The proposed budget will go to Erie County Council for consideration.
Vogel pledged to work with Erie County Council and to welcome public input through the coming budget review process.
“I am confident that through open dialogue and true partnership we will arrive at a 2027 budget that best serves the people of Erie County,” Vogel said.
Erie County Council Chairman Terry Scutella in return pledged to work with the county administration through the budget process and commended the administration for its “open” relationship with council.
“It’s a lot different than we had through the last four years,” Scutella said.
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A particularly contentious county budget process last year included multiple vetoes of council changes by former Erie County Executive Brenton Davis, veto overrides by council and a lawsuit that challenged and ultimately nullified some of Davis’ budget actions.
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Proposed Erie County budget has no tax increase for 2027