Legislators propose transfer of surplus funds to fix county roads

Erie County Legislator John Mills and some of his colleagues recently proposed a resolution requesting the county transfer $5 million in unassigned funds to the Department of Public Works in order to address ongoing road issues. The resolution was sent to committee for further discussion during last week’s session.

This winter, swings in temperature took a toll on many roads in Erie County creating potholes and safety concerns for drivers, especially school bus drivers and emergency responders who are responsible for the safe transportation of students and patients. The resolution proposes an allocation of $5 million out of the $103 million the county has in reserve funds.

“The deteriorating condition of our roads has caused headaches for our entire community,” said Legislator John Mills. “In many cases, drivers are seeking alternate routes to avoid the roads in serious disrepair. We need to make sure the administration and Department of Public Works have the necessary funds to fix them as quickly as possible.”

“I know many people are fed up with roads in the Southtowns especially Lakeview Road,” said Legislator Lynne Dixon. “We need to secure enough money to ensure our hard-working Department of Public Works crews can complete repairs this Spring.”

“Everyone knows potholes and crumbling infrastructure are widespread in Erie County,” said Minority Leader Joe Lorigo. “This year’s damage and deplorable conditions seem worse than ever. That’s why we’re trying to allocate more funds to help address the issue. There’s no excuse for the administration to claim we don’t have the money.”

“Properly maintaining our roads needs to be a priority for the safety and well-being of our community,” said Legislator Ed Rath. “If the administration doesn’t act quickly, we are setting ourselves up for even more infrastructure problems next year.”

Mills’ resolution is co-sponsored by Legislators Ed Rath, Joe Lorigo, Kevin Hardwick and Lynne Dixon. A copy of it can be viewed here

Note: In 2015, the legislature unanimously approved a $5 million fund transfer for similar projects. Information on that can be found here.

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