We didn’t expect to see a plan being proposed last week by legislative Democrats to be taken seriously by Republicans in the Chautauqua County Legislature.

It’s pretty early to make such commitments, especially in an environment when federal and state funding for programs used by county residents is in flux. But now is just the time for the legislature to be thinking about the proposal from legislators Bob Bankoski and Tom Nelson.

Bankoski and Nelson proposed cutting county property taxes by $2 million, increasing the senior citizen partial property tax exemption income limit from $30,000 to $38,000 and seeking a reduction of the 8% county sales tax to 7.75% with more sales tax going to cities, towns and villages.

Reducing the county’s property tax levy would be beneficial to county taxpayers – both homeowners as well as businesses – who could use a decrease in one of their yearly obligations at a time when costs are rising throughout household and business budgets. What Bankoski and Nelson don’t say, however, is whether they would come through spending cuts or an appropriation from the county’s surplus. The answer to that question will determine if any Republicans are willing to come along with the Democrats to reduce the county’s tax levy.

Decreasing the sales tax is worth talking about, though we have a feeling Republicans aren’t going to reduce the sales tax and, at the same time, give more of the sales tax to the county’s cities, towns and villages. Republicans have been protective of the county’s surplus, so realism dictates Nelson and Bankoski probably have to choose pushing for either a decrease in the sales tax or sharing more with local governments.

The no-brainer, in our opinion, is increasing the partial real property tax exemption by raising the income eligibility from $30,000 to $38,000. The county’s senior citizens are seeing their limited incomes eaten up by cost increases on all sides. Lessening their county taxes – when the county has a hefty surplus, nonetheless – could make things much easier for senior citizens who own their homes.

As we said, it’s early to make these decisions now. But they should be considered as the year proceeds.