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John J. Mills - District 13 
As the weather improves, people are getting out to enjoy the abundance of outdoor activities that Erie County has to offer. Many of these attractions rely on county funding for operation and maintenance. Further, many individuals travel on county owned and operated roadways to arrive at these attractions. However, due to an impasse regarding capital borrowing since 2006, much of our infrastructure has suffered due to the inability of the county to borrow to undertake capital projects. I am happy to report that at its last session, the Erie County Legislature approved an agreement worked out between County Executive Chris Collins and the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority, more commonly known as the Control Board, regarding capital borrowing. This agreement will allow capital borrowing to occur to fund improvements to Erie County's roads, bridges and infrastructure. Since 2006, only a handful of emergency repairs were allowed to proceed, causing the county's infrastructure to crumble and public safety to be jeopardized. The delay put federal and state matching funds for many projects in jeopardy. As a result of much hard work and negotiation between the County Executive and the Control Board, Erie County will secure approximately $103 million to dedicate to capital projects throughout the county. This agreement is a long overdue victory for the taxpayers of Erie County. Unfortunately, at the same session that the legislature approved the agreement on capital borrowing, the majority in the legislature passed a new local law that will have many negative consequences for the taxpayers of Erie County. This new local law creates an Erie County Planning Board. I am strongly opposed to such a board. Rather than fostering much needed economic growth, a planning board will harm economic growth and development in the region. I stand with the mayors and supervisors in the 13th District who universally oppose this extra layer of government, on top of already existing municipal planning boards, from which individuals and businesses will be forced to seek recommendations regarding any development project. While the goal of preventing sprawl is admirable, the creation of this planning board neither furthers this goal nor encourages strategic growth. Rather than create and encourage opportunities for individuals and businesses to establish and grow in an appropriate area, the board will merely prevent growth from occurring in areas desirable to developers and force growth opportunities outside of Erie County altogether. Economic development thrives when individuals and businesses are permitted to make educated decisions from a variety of choices on how best to develop. This planning board merely allows bureaucrats to restrict opportunities and inhibit development. The planning board is bad for economic growth and bad for Erie County. I support County Executive Collins' stated intention to veto this law. During these difficult economic times, it is important that your elected representatives carefully consider all measures to improve the economic climate of Erie County. Approving a measure to allow capital projects to proceed, the economic infrastructure to improve and safety to be increased was a good decision for Erie County taxpayers. The planning board was not. I will continue to diligently find ways to make Erie County the ideal place to work, live and raise a family. I am interested in hearing your thoughts about Erie County infrastructure improvements and about the Erie County Planning Board. My district office is located at 431 Main Street in East Aurora. My telephone number is 655-5650. You can also reach me by email at jmills13@erie.gov. To read about some of the issues that I have been addressing at the legislature, please visit my website online at www.erie.gov/legislature/district13. |
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