Minority Caucus releases statement following vote to eliminate proposed tax increase

A majority of the Erie County Legislature announces that through strategic budget amendments, County Executive Mark Poloncarz’s proposed tax increase has been eliminated in the adopted 2013 budget. During the Dec. 4, 2012 budget vote, Republicans Kevin Hardwick, John Mills and Edward Rath; Democrat Tom Loughran; Conservative Joseph Lorigo and Independent Lynne Dixon proposed and confirmed a budget amendment package to reduce the $1.4 billion budget by approximately $8.5 million, the amount slated to be raised by a 3.4 percent property tax hike.

 

“We are happy to inform the residents of Erie County that after a very long process, a majority of the Legislature consisting of three Republicans, one Democrat, one Conservative and one Independent, came together to protect the taxpayers of Erie County. The 2013 budget has officially been adopted without a tax increase. The services that residents rely on are still funded appropriately and business will continue in Erie County.”

-          Erie County Legislature Minority Caucus

 

The Minority Caucus concluded its statement by reprimanding the recent actions of the County Executive who threatened the taxpayers with cuts to programs and services in 2013. It is important to note that the County Executive does not possess the authority to take such action without approval of the Legislature and the Minority Caucus will not give credibility to idle threats and will not support any gimmickry by the administration that will impact programs and services.

 

“Yesterday, the County Executive made threatening statements to the taxpayers about the legacy of our proposed cuts.  His accusations that residents will have to deal with cuts to libraries, culturals and the programs and services they expect and deserve are meritless and amount to nothing more than a scare tactic.  Our cuts were made in areas that were overestimated and inflated, and the end result is simply that the taxpayers will not pay more and the County Executive will have to manage better.  His threats also ignore the delineated powers the Erie County Charter gives to the Legislature, specifically power to approve budget transfers throughout the year.  Simply put, unless the entire Democratic Majority votes to transfer money away from libraries, culturals, services and programs, the cuts will not happen.  This caucus is firm in its position that what we funded should be funded, and what we cut should be cut.”

-          Erie County Legislature Minority Caucus

 

Acknowledging that the County Executive’s actions have caused some concern in the community, the Minority Caucus reminds taxpayers that Erie County currently maintains an $83 million cash surplus that allows it to manage any unforeseen emergencies. 

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