OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon The Chautauqua County Legislature voted 12-3 to drop the senior citizens’ earned income partial tax exemption from $58,400 to $30,000.

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County officials are going on record saying they think the federal and state governments should give more to older adults at the same time cutting the maximum income level for senior citizens to get a break on their property taxes.

During the county legislature meeting, officials amended a resolution which is lowering the maximum income level for a partial real property tax exemption from $58,400 to $30,000.

In February the legislature raised the income level from $22,000 to $58,400 but were told in committees that New York state’s maximum income level for partial tax exemption income is $50,000, so they were required to lower it by some amount.

There appeared very little interest in having that income level at the maximum level.

“I thought we were in the season of Easter, but it seems like we’re in the season of epiphany tonight. This discussion is odd in that only four weeks ago that we voted unanimously to raise the senior citizens exemption to over $55,000. As I recall there was no discussion,” said Legislator Fred Larson, D-Jamestown.

Legislator Terry Niebel, R-Sheridan, admitted that last month’s vote was not thoroughly researched. “Yes, we all voted in favor of this last month, including myself, but I think we have more information now. Perhaps we didn’t do all the homework that we should have, but I think we have more statistics, more facts and figures to base this on,” he said.

The prepared modified resolution, which stated is at the request of County Executive PJ Wendel, proposed the maximum income limit be $30,000, effective March 1, 2024.

Legislator Susan Parker, D-Fredonia, tried to increase that level to $37,650. She said she got that figure after talking with Dr. MaryAnn Spanos with the county’s Office for the Aging.

According to Parker, $37,650 is 250% of the poverty level. “The Office for the Aging has in its practice with services that are rendered from them to seniors that 250% of that individual poverty level be used,” she said.

Legislator Marty Proctor, R-Mina, countered, saying that from 2017-2023, Social Security increased by 25.8%. Before February, the senior citizens’ partial tax exemption income level was $22,000 and if they increase that by the same amount as Social Security, that would equal $28,200. “I believe $30,000, based on the Social Security (increases), is where we should be at,” he said.

Parker’s proposal to change the amount to $37,650 fell short, with only fellow Democrats Larson and Tom Nelson voting in favor. Democratic Legislator Marcus Buchanan of Dunkirk voted no, as did all other Republican legislators in attendance. Absent were Legislators Bob Bankoski, D-Dunkirk, Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia, Fred Johnson, R-Westfield, and Dave Wilfong, R-Jamestown.

After that vote failed, the legislature voted 12-3 to approve the $30,000 income level for seniors, with Parker, Larson and Nelson voting against it.

Later in the meeting, the legislature approved a motion titled, “Support for New York State Office for the Aging and Chautauqua County Office for Aging Services.”

Motions have no legal impact and are designed to give the opinion of the elected body.

In the motion, county lawmakers proclaimed March as “Support for Office for the Aging Services Month in Chautauqua County” and urged local, federal and state government representatives to advocate for increased funding levels for older adults and for Office for the Aging programming in the federal and state budgets.