APRIL 13, 2009

COUNTY LIBRARIES, CULTURALS GENERATE ECONOMIC GROWTH

The Erie County Legislature majority has been a strong advocate and supporter of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries and our community's cultural institutions. Beyond enhancing our region's quality of life, these institutions bring vital services and economic spin offs.

Despite the challenging fiscal times, legislators have fought for and provided necessary funding to the libraries and, in conjunction with the governing board, bolstered aspects of their service delivery to our community. Under the Legislature's Library Protection Act, the county has allocated over $22 million annually through the operating budget and collaborated on funding plans.

Erie County residents use libraries for many reasons, from educational services to reading, viewing or listening to materials. As the economic situation gets tougher in Erie County, the state and the country, more people turn to libraries for assistance in job searching and preparing for job interviews and resume writing.

In recent years, the Legislature Majority has strengthened its review of the discretionary parts of the county budget. We have increased the executive's proposed budget to make certain that the libraries and the cultural organizations received funding that allow them to function and carry out their missions while operating as efficiently as possible. The County Legislature majority restored funding to some organizations while keeping the 2009 cultural organizations' spending at 95 percent of 2008 levels. We have also continued the Budget Accountability Act, which asks for a close-out report on how public funds were utilized. The Community Enrichment Committee, chaired by Legislator Betty Jean Grant, along with members Michele Iannello, Tom Loughran, Tom Mazur, Tim Kennedy and Ed Rath, frequently brings in board members or administrators to ensure accountability.

The Legislature majority also realizes that the cultural organizations are among the groups helping drive the economic wheel of Erie County, generating cultural tourism to this region. Travelers coming to Erie County to visit the Buffalo Zoo, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, African American Cultural Center, Irish Classical Theatre, Buffalo Arts Studio, Theodore Roosevelt Site, the Historical Society, the new Burchfield Art Gallery, and the many other cultural organizations the County Legislature majority funded and defended, spend dollars here. This spending enhances many of these organizations' events or programs, and adds to economic spin offs for businesses, such as restaurants, hotels, gift shops and others. Visitors and citizens generate revenues for the county and other municipalities. This allows the cultural groups to continue their core missions while addressing the need for tight spending practices. The 2009 budget provides funds for 48 institutions to receive $5,151,620.

In recent developments, the long standing Erie County Cultural Advisory Board, which proposes to the executive, is being assessed and reviewed by the Legislature. The administration, under the Department of Environment and Planning, appears to have imposed edicts on cultural boards without the necessary transparency and, to date, without explanation for its goals. The Community Enrichment Committee will continue its work on these important community concerns throughout this month. For more information, check www.erie.gov or call the Legislature at 858-7500.

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