Press Releases: 02/28/08 Mills announces Additional Springville HEAP Outreach 02/28/08 Mills Announces Orchard Park HEAP Outreach 02/15/08 Mills Announces Springville HEAP Outreach 02/05/08 Bee Column 02/08 01/04/08 Mills announces HEAP outreach efforts

John J. Mills - District 13 October, 2006 Mills remarks on the upcoming budget process On my travels through Erie County, I hear many interesting thoughts, ideas and questions. The two questions that I hear most are "What are you doing about the roads?" and "What are you going to do about the budget?" I am happy to report that there has been lots of progress with the roads. The crews are working hard to get as much done as possible before winter sets in. I appreciate your calls and emails letting me know the progress of roads projects as well as problem areas that are not being addressed. I am pleased to see the roads improved from the deplorable condition that I found them during my spring tour. I hope to see similar improvement with Erie County's budget. As you know, my goals are to make county government more efficient, effective and responsible. I have been meeting with department heads and supervisors from many departments, including social services, highways and the sheriffs department. Responsibility begins with having the knowledge necessary to make difficult decisions regarding governance. These meetings have provided me with a tremendous amount of valuable information. Over the past few months, some people have reported that the county's fiscal picture is brighter than previously anticipated and that tax increases may be smaller than expected. I will not support a tax increase. Balancing the budget should be achieved through increasing efficiency and increasing revenue sources other than sales and property taxes. This is the reason that I support restructuring the New York State STAR program and returning the money directly to taxpayers, rather than giving it to county government. An example of a revenue generating project with a minimal cost to Erie County taxpayers is the Rainforest Exhibit at the Buffalo Zoo. This project, which will be a centerpiece of the zoo's exhibits, will cost approximately $16 million. It will be funded through a combination of state, county and private contributions. The county's contribution will be $4 million. Certainly, this is a significant amount to spend. However, if the county does not support the project, the private support will be withdrawn and the money earmarked by the state will be used elsewhere in New York State. By funding the project with $4 million, Erie County will receive a $16 million project that will not only be an asset to our residents, but will also be a major tourist draw. Tourism will bring money to our area that will go to our local merchants and workers, which results in increased sales tax revenue for Erie County. As such, by spending money on this project now, Erie County will reap the benefits far beyond the cost of this project in the future. This is the sort of cooperative project that Erie County's control board has asked the county government to identify and enter into. I am in the process of identifying and recommending other such revenue positive projects. These projects include fraud reduction, more efficient use of county resources, cost reduction and elimination of duplication of services. Re-engineering how county government offers services will create a more efficient government without the need to increase tax rates. Just because Erie County's budget picture is not as dire as previously predicted does not mean that your government should operate in a business as usual fashion. Complacency led us into our budget problems and complacency will make the problems worse. Complacency led to our budget problems. Creative thinking will lead to solutions. Budget hearings begin this month. If you have any questions or comments about the budget or any other issue, please do not hesitate to contact me. My telephone number is 655-5650 and my email is jmills13@erie.gov. My district office is located at 431 Main Street in East Aurora. Back to District 13 Homepage