The Warren County Board of Supervisors held a workshop meeting on Wednesday to discuss a possible increase to the sales tax rate collected in Warren County on taxable goods. After a wide-ranging discussion about budgetary options, the board did not take any formal action, but should the board decide to discuss the proposal further, night public meetings will be held in different parts of the county in the coming months to receive additional public feedback. About 10 members of the public were in attendance on Wednesday..
Warren County is one of three counties in New York with a sales tax rate of 7%, with all other counties collecting a higher rate. Two of the other counties that are below 8% are pursuing increases as well. New York State keeps 4 cents of each sales tax dollar, Warren County 3 cents.
Supervisors are looking to close projected budget gaps in coming years that stem from higher prices for energy, highway repair costs from severe storms, Medicaid costs, unfunded NY State mandates and commodities prices. Options to pay for these increased costs include budget cuts, a sales tax increase or a property tax increase. County Department heads have been asked to cut 5% from their proposed budgets for 2025.
Warren County Administrator John Taflan told the board that the estimated impact of an increase to 8% sales tax would be about $384 more annually for a typical family of four in Warren County.
The meeting can be viewed in its entirety here on the Warren County YouTube page.
You can view County Administrator Taflan's PowerPoint presentation here.
If the board requested an increase, it would require NY State approval and take effect in 2026 at the earliest.