The Erie County Legislature unanimously approved a Local Law at its July 27 session, comprising the 33 Charter Review Commission recommendations recently approved by the Legislature.

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 five public hearings, as well as conversations among individual legislators, county department heads and officials, former officeholders, attorneys, members of the Erie County Charter Revision Commission and, most importantly, constituents.

The County Legislature reformed Erie County's governance with tougher fiscal checks and balances through an updated charter. 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.

We have directed that further committee deliberations be conducted on changes concerning the Department of Social Services, public safety, and campaign solicitations. These are extremely important areas where further consideration is warranted.

An in-depth examination of the Social Services Department is a necessity. Human service delivery is the prime county government mission. We need to look at cost savings, improved efficiencies, and mandated or contractual compliance requirements

The Legislature voted against the proposed county manager-county executive hybrid form of government because of concerns over the cost of the new position and adding another layer of bureaucracy. We are currently studying and redefining the duties of the deputy county executive.

The local law we approved went to the County Executive, who a public hearing August 9. The County Executive now has the choice to approve or veto these charter revisions. If vetoed, the County Legislature can override with at least a 10-5 vote. Language is then submitted to the Board of Elections for this measure to appear on the November ballot for you, the voter, to exercise the ultimate choice by voting yes or no. I ask for your support of this important reform referendum.

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. 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 of the County Legislature, 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.

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