Niagara county legislature cuts taxes in 2014 budget

County adopts $333 million spending plan

by Christian W. Peck

Public Information Officer

Niagara County Public Information Office

Niagara County lawmakers approved a $333 million spending plan Tuesday night in Lockport, cutting taxes for county residents and continuing a decade-long trend that has seen the county's top rate drop more than 13 percent.

The approved budget sets a full value tax rate of $7.60 per $1,000 of assessed value, down from the $7.72 rate in the 2013 spending plan.  The fiscally conservative budget maintains deep cuts in county tax rates achieved over the course of the past decade, with taxes still sharply lower than the $8.78 per $1,000 rate reached in 2004 - a 13.4 percent overall reduction and a one-year cut of 1.6 percent.

The budget was approved by an 11-3 vote, and saw both the average tax rate paid by county property owners and the overall tax levy drop.

"Even in light of rising mandated expenses, we managed to pass a responsible budget that eases the burden on county taxpayers while maintaining our fund balance," said Legislature Majority Leader Rick Updegrove, R-Lockport, following the budget's passage.

The 2014 budget reduces the size of county government by 13 full-time positions.

A table containing municipal tax rates, based upon the separate municipalities' equalization rates, is includedhere. Click to DOWNLOAD the PDF.