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Statement from Comptroller Mychajliw on Report of Revenue and Expense Projections for 2017 Budget

October 14, 2016

STATEMENT FROM COMPTROLLER MYCHAJLIW ON RELEASE OF 2017 COUNTY BUDGET

Comptroller Mychajliw Releases Report on Revenues and Expenditures included in 2017 budget.  Criticizes Overly Aggressive Sales Tax Assumptions.

“This morning, as required by the Erie County Charter, I released to the Legislature a report on the revenues and expenditures included in the County Executive’s proposed 2017 budget.  As has been the case for the last several years, the County Executive violated the charter and did not provide my office with the property tax revenue numbers that are used to balance the budget.  This violation of the law denied my office the necessary information to provide the Legislature a full and complete report. 

The County Executive’s 2017 budget is over-reliant on an expectation that sales tax revenue will grow by nearly $10 million next year when, to date, it has only grown $25,854 in 2016.  It is irresponsible to balance the taxpayer’s budget on a risky assumption like this.  It also concerns me that the County Executive has been involved in extensive talks with ECMCC about a smoke and mirrors borrowing scheme that will add almost $200 million to the taxpayer’s credit card which is supposed to be paid through a shady credit mechanism over the next five years.  His revenue and expense report was silent on this matter, meaning he intentionally didn’t provide the information or he intends to conduct this process outside of the county budget and behind closed doors.  Either is unacceptable and unfair to taxpayers.”

            The Erie County Comptroller’s Office was not provided an advance copy of the 2017 budget.  We are scheduled to receive one at 11:30am on Friday, October 14th at the same time as its public release.  We will conduct a full and thorough review of the budget and deliver a report to the Legislature.  The Comptroller will be available for preliminary comments on the budget Monday (Oct. 17th) morning.

For a PDF of the Statement, click here.

For a PDF of the Report sent to the Legislature, click here.

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