Mayor Schember recently released his proposed 2026 budget for the City of Erie. In the budget workbook on page 14, is included a list of tax-exempt properties. This information was included in 2024’s workbook, but not 2025’s. In that 2 years, Gannon became the number one tax-exempt property holder (up from number 3) in the City of Erie, up from 51 properties in 2024 to 99 properties. These properties have an assessed value of $153, 792,719. The tax (if paid) that would be paid on these properties would be $2,017,760. If Gannon had a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) program (which they do not), they would be paying $1,008,880.
Tell me again, why do they need 3280 square foot of space in our library at $7 per square foot for 25 years with an option of up to 45 years with no increase?
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that every has.”
~Margaret Mead
Keep Our Library Public! 