The Erie County Legislature unanimously approved a package of more than 30 local laws at its July 27 session, codifying the 33 Charter Review Commission recommendations approved by the Legislature two weeks ago.

The Legislature voted to strengthen financial oversight and budgetary structure through increasing the powers of the County Comptroller, including authorizing the Comptroller to declare a deficit, review revenue projections, and allow the Legislature to reduce such projections by a two-thirds majority vote. This action follows eight months of deliberations and four public hearings, as well as many conversations between individual legislators, county department heads and officials, former officeholders, attorneys, members of the Erie County Charter Revision Commission and constituents.

"The County Legislature reformed Erie County's governance with tougher fiscal checks and balances through an updated charter," County Legislature Chairperson Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) said "I am very pleased this was approved 15-0! These changes will help ensure that future budgets include programmatic budgeting, cost accounting, and voting on individual lines."

"The local law package we approved will now go to the County Executive, who will hold a public hearing and either approve or veto. If vetoed, the County Legislature can override with at least a 10-5 vote," Legislature Majority Leader Maria R. Whyte (D-Buffalo) said. "Language is then submitted to the Board of Elections for this measure to appear on the November ballot."

"For many years, over-estimating revenue projections and under-estimating the cost of large expenses had been standard operating procedure in Erie County. This will no longer be the case:" Legislator Demone A. Smith (D-Buffalo), Chairman of the Finance and Management Committee, said. "We will have the Comptroller – the chief fiscal officer in Erie County – review the revenue projections and large expense estimates to determine their suitability. With the guidance of the Comptroller, this body will help forge a budget that is not only balanced on paper, but balanced in reality."

"As chair, my bottom line when voting on the charter recommendations was simply whether or not they assisted in forging future budget and fiscal stability or would increase costs. I chose to only vote for cost savings," Chairperson Marinelli concluded.

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