Consultants say 1‑ to 2‑mill increase could cover a quarter to half of Erie's gap

PFM consultants presented millage scenarios as part of the council's deficit discussion and gave concrete draft figures to guide early debate. "The number that I would start with in your head is either a 1 mil or a 2 mil real estate tax increase," one consultant said, then explained those amounts translate to roughly $2.9 million and $5.8 million in new revenue respectively.

Consultants and council members discussed how the increases would affect homeowners (a 1‑mill increase is roughly $100 on a $100,000 assessed value) and observed the distributional consequences for fixed‑income and low‑income residents. Several councilors stressed the importance of explaining service value and tradeoffs before seeking voter support or approving tax changes.

PFM framed millage as one of several levers — alongside vacancy savings, fee adjustments, and negotiating with authorities — and recommended considering phased or targeted relief to protect the most vulnerable taxpayers if a millage increase is pursued.

Provenance: topic introduced when consultants raised the millage scenarios and continued through council discussion of household impacts and alternatives.