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Olean council amends budget, rescinds and reissues tax bills after rate correction
Summary
The Olean Common Council voted unanimously to amend the 2025–26 budget, rescind and reissue tax bills and authorize refunds after correcting an error that changed the tax rate; the council also approved a temporary waiver of penalties to give residents time to receive corrected bills.
The Olean Common Council voted 6-0 May 13 to amend the city’s 2025–26 budget, rescind and reissue tax bills and authorize refunds after correcting a tax-rate error, Council President Crawford announced.
City leaders said the corrected budget reflects a 6.2% tax increase and that the tax rate was updated to 17.75 from 17.90. The mayor told the council the change reduced the shortfall and that the administration identified $74,711 to balance the amended budget.
Why it matters: Reissuing tax bills affects all Olean property taxpayers and prompted the council to temporarily waive penalties to avoid penalizing residents while corrected bills are mailed and refunds are issued.
Council discussion and details: The mayor told the council that staff had “redone the budget” to reflect the corrected 6.2% increase and the new 17.75 tax rate. The administration estimated the cost to reprint and mail corrected bills and to issue refunds at $5,688.21 and said that expense would be covered in the 2025–26 budget. The council directed that no penalties be assessed for payments made through June and July to give taxpayers time to receive corrected bills.
Assessor Greg Beulah updated the council on valuation and tax-rate impacts at an earlier committee meeting, and aldermen discussed budget line adjustments including lower-than-expected property insurance and several departmental savings that contributed to the $74,711 identified to balance the amendment.
Formal action: Resolution 67-25 authorized the budget amendment, the rescinding and reissuing of tax bills, adjustments to the penalty structure, and issuance of refunds for amounts overpaid. The motion passed on a 6-0 roll call.
Next steps: City staff said corrected bills will be mailed promptly and that refunds and penalty waivers will be processed as directed. The administration also said it will explore improved budgeting software and other process changes to reduce risk of similar errors in the future.
