MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Legislature’s Audit and Control Committee has given its approval to a local law that would benefit first-time homebuyers – although two key members have come out against the proposal. Committee Chairman John Runkle (R-Cassadaga) along with member Chuck Nazzaro (D-Jamestown) feel the law is discriminatory as it is currently written – because it only favors low-income, first-time homebuyers.
During the Meeting, Nazzaro said he’d prefer to see if another law could be introduced that could help more of the county’s residents. Runkle agreed, saying he’d prefer to see a tax exemption program that favors seniors and other citizens, not just those who fall into a low income category.
Under the proposed local law, a property owner who meets certain eligibility guidelines can receive a 50 percent tax exemption based on valuation, with a 10 percent exemption decrease each year. Under state law, the tax abatement can be granted on behalf of any county, city, town, village or school district with approval from the respected governing body. Legislator George Borrello (R-Silver Creek) is sponsoring the measure.
Despite not having the approval of two members, the local law still passed committee by a vote of 3 to 2 with members P.J. Wendel (R-Lakewood), David Himelein (R-Findley Lake) and Tom DeJoe (D-Brocton) voting for it.
It will now go to the full legislature for consideration during next Wednesday’s voting session.
WRFA’s Jason Sample attended the meeting and featured the discussion on the First-Time Homebuyers Law during this week’s Community Matters program – a podcast of which will be made available later today.
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