JULY 13, 2009

LEGISLATURE CONTINUES REFORM WITH DOWNSIZING, BUDGET HEARINGS

In our continued efforts at reforming county government, the Erie County Legislature unanimously voted to reduce the size of the Legislature to 13 members from 15 and increase the length of terms to four years from two at its July 2 session.

The 14-0 approval of this local law reducing the size of the Legislature and lengthening the terms of office will go before the voters of Erie County in November, unless the administration vetoes this reduction effort. The County Legislature will be able to vote to override any possible administrative veto of this local law.

The local law was sponsored by myself, Majority Leader Maria R. Whyte, Government Affairs Committee Chair Legislator Barbara Miler-Williams and Legislators Betty Jean Grant, Michele M. Iannello, Kathy Konst, Daniel M. Kozub, Thomas J. Mazur, Robert B. Reynolds Jr. and Timothy M. Wroblewski.

The action the County Legislature took makes true reform a reality in putting the reduction of the Legislature to 13 members from 15 up to the voters of Erie County. The Legislature both honored the work and effort of the 21st Century Commission and made reform a reality. We have continually cut the County Legislature's budgets through legislative action over the last several years, and we will continue this financial prudence. I am proud that this legislative body worked in a collaborative manner for the benefit of all of Erie County.

The Erie County Legislature was originally made up of 20 members, was downsized first to 17 members and downsized again to 15 members in 2003. The Legislature's vote to reduce its size again, this time to 13 members, continues this proactive approach.

The County Legislature will conduct its annual mid-year budget hearings in its continuing role of financial oversight at 9:30 a.m. Monday, July 20, in the Legislature Chambers on the Fourth Floor of 92 Franklin Street in downtown Buffalo.

The County Legislature started these mid-year budget hearings following the budget situation from 2005, and it is one of our methods for working with the departments and administration to make certain that spending and revenues are in line with the established annual budgets. When we find something that may be out of line or needs addressing, it is much more fiscally prudent to make adjustments at this time than get caught with more difficult situations later.

The mid-year budget hearings allow the county department heads to present budget and operating information to the Finance and Management Committee, under its chair, Legislator Kathy Konst, and to present the status on each department's spending and revenue projections. The hearings are open to the public and will continue Tuesday and Wednesday, July 21 and 22, with call backs to be held Friday, July 24.

Readers having questions on these budgetary matters should contact our web site, www.erie.gov/legislature, for the full hearing schedule.

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