City of Erie Budget Proposal Includes Garbage & Sewer Fee Increases

For the sixth year in a row, the City of Erie residents will not see a property tax increase in 2025.

However, they could be paying more for refuse and sewer fees.

On Wednesday, Erie Mayor Joe Schember presented the city's $106 million budget proposal to Erie City Council.

After meeting with every department, Mayor Schember's administration determined that the city is facing a $5.4 million deficit in 2025.

In order to make up for the deficit, the mayor is proposing using $4 million from the city's water authority lease prepayment deal.

The mayor is also proposing a 9% increase in sewer fees and an 8% increase in refuse fees, which would cost each property owner an extra $54.00 a year.

The fee increases are expected to generate an extra $1.2 million in additional revenue.

"Our costs keep going up every year and we need to keep up with those growing costs," said Erie City Finance Director Lisa Gomersall. "There's been a lot of inflation over the last four years or so, so we've had to keep up and if we are able to do small increases each year, it's better than having to do a 12 percent increase every four years."

Erie City Council must approve a final budget by December 31.