Passage of County Budget Appears Likely BUFFALO (wned) - The 2010 Erie County Budget is scheduled to be approved on time, December first. Later this week the Legislature is holding a special session to formally accept the spending plan.

Next year's proposed budget totals a little more than a $1 billion, but County Executive Chris Collins believes "there's nothing controversial in the budget, so I'm going to be optimistic" that it will be passed by the Legislature.

The Legislature is scheduled to vote on any amendments Wednesday and Collins expects that "any changes they may make will be minor."

He calls his plan transparent, honest and conservative. It includes no tax increase, the elimination of nearly 200 county jobs, more funding for the Convention and Visitors Bureau and no raises for Commissioners or Deputy Commissioners.

Though some taxpayers have raised concerns about funding for libraries, arts and cultural organizations and social services, "all the issues, you could say, from last year have been addressed," said Collins.

County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz says the proposed budget is reasonable. However Poloncarz points out that "a significant structural gap was closed with nearly $33 million in stimulus funding."

Without that federal help, he says 2011 will be much different and taxpayers and county employees will feel the effects.


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