Erie County Surcharge Nears Annual Goal at New Highmark Stadium

Erie County is rapidly closing in on its annual revenue target of $4 million through a specialized 6 percent surcharge applied to purchases at the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Just two months after the state-of-the-art venue officially opened its doors, the additional fee has brought in an average of $1.44 million per month.

Data compiled through September indicates that the surcharge has accumulated a total of $2,877,771.51 during its initial operating period. In August, the Erie County Comptroller's office recorded $1,080,915.09 in collections, followed by an additional remittance of $1,796,856.42 sent by the Buffalo Bills organization for September.

This financial momentum places the local government well on track to hit the anticipated $4 million yearly benchmark over the course of the 30-year stadium lease. The 6 percent levy applies on top of the standard 8.75 percent sales tax levied throughout Erie County.

The extra fee affects a wide array of transactions inside and around the facility, covering tickets, parking spots in team-operated lots, food and beverage concessions, team merchandise, and other retail outlets. The surcharge applies not only to Buffalo Bills home matchups but also to concerts and other entertainment events hosted at the venue.

A third party collects the revenue and deposits it into a designated, county-owned account. Under the terms of a 2022 Memorandum of Understanding involving the Bills, Erie County, and New York State, these funds serve as the county's official contribution toward a capital improvement fund.

All monies raised via the surcharge are earmarked specifically for future maintenance, repairs, capital improvements, and facility upkeep across the stadium and its surrounding campus. Per the lease agreement, the accumulated funds are expected to be transferred annually into a specialized account every April 30th to be managed by Empire State Development.

Representatives for Erie County emphasized that the surcharge mechanism was thoroughly discussed and negotiated by the Erie County Legislature during public forums regarding the stadium lease. The Erie County Comptroller's Office and the Bills franchise continue to collaborate on tracking and documenting the incoming funds to ensure proper allocation for long-term stadium infrastructure.