JUNE 22, 2007

LEGISLATORS IANNELLO, MARINELLI ANNOUNCE UNANIMOUS PASSAGE OF 2007-2008 ERIE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BUDGET

The Erie County Legislature unanimously approved the 2007-2008 Erie Community College operating budget at its June 21 session, with no tuition increase.

The $90.5 million operating budget includes a county share of $17.4 million, a $2 million increase. No faculty reductions were included in the 2007-2008 budget.

"The 2007-2008 Erie Community College budget is a balanced and frugal budget," County Legislator Michele M. Iannello (D-Kenmore), chair of the Community Enrichment Committee, which has direct Legislature oversight of ECC matters, said. "No tuition increase being instituted is the best news I've heard in a long time."

"Erie Community College is one of our component pieces of economic development, education and job training in Erie County," County Legislature Chair Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Buffalo, Tonawanda) said. "The ECC spending plan will allow the county to continue what I believe is a prudent philosophy, to spend county dollars on county residents, training local residents for local jobs. We are pleased to continue to work with ECC as a partner on economic development and the education of county residents and to keep students in Western New York."

According to information provided by ECC officials in their budget document, Erie Community College has an estimated annual impact on the Western New York community of $668 million.

Both Legislators Marinelli and Iannello were pleased that the county was able to increase its share of sponsorship of ECC, which the county is obligated to do, without increasing tuition to students. They also noted that while the County Legislature and ECC Board of Trustees have approved the 2007-2008 budget, the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority now will review the ECC budget.

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