Politics
Buffalo Raises Property Tax 1.2 Mills, Adding $156 to Households
The November ballot measure would raise the city property tax millage rate by 1.2 mills, adding an average $156 annually to owner-occupied homes according to the 2026 city budget document.
How we reported this
Buffalo voters will decide on November 3, 2026, whether to approve a property tax millage increase of 1.2 mills under a referendum placed on the ballot by the Buffalo Common Council. The change would apply to the 2027 tax year and affect all residential and commercial parcels within city limits.
City officials placed the measure after the 2026 budget showed pension obligations rising by $8.4 million compared with the prior year. The increase follows three consecutive years of flat or reduced millage rates that held total city property tax collections near $142 million.
For Buffalo homeowners the shift would appear on the January 2027 tax bill. A property assessed at the city median of $68,000 would see an added $156 in annual taxes, while a home assessed at $95,000 would pay an extra $218.
Daily spending adjustments
Local advocates note that the added cost would compete with other household line items such as groceries and utility payments. A household already paying $1,850 in combined city and county property taxes would face a new total near $2,006 if the referendum passes.
The 2026 city budget paper projects that the higher millage would generate $4.9 million in additional revenue, all directed to the pension fund line item. No new spending on parks, police or libraries is included in the allocation.
Voter timeline
Absentee ballots for the referendum become available October 12. City election officials will mail sample ballots and a one-page fiscal impact statement to every registered voter address by October 20. Results are scheduled for certification by the Erie County Board of Elections on November 18.