Steuben County has approved a $259.7 million budget for 2025, reducing the tax rate for the 12th year despite a 1.76% increase in the tax levy.
County officials described the plan as balanced, addressing state mandates and funding critical services like roads, bridges, public safety, and senior and youth programs.
The budget includes $9.55 million for infrastructure improvements and focuses on competitive salaries to address staffing shortages, particularly in mental health services. Rising costs for Medicaid and Social Services, along with wage increases, were cited as major expenses.
The average tax rate will drop by 4.71%, continuing a decade-long trend of tax reductions.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].