POLONCARZ CUTS COPS, CUTS ROAD FUNDS, RAISES TAXES, KEEPS “FRIENDS AND FAMILY PLAN” IN BUDGET

County Executive could avoid property tax increase, but chose to promote friends and family and adds jobs during so-called “hiring freeze” throughout the year

(ERIE COUNTY, NY) – Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw shared data today that showed the Poloncarz Administration went on a nearly year-long spending spree, violating its own “hiring freeze” by putting more and more employees on the county payroll and promoting friends and family.  This comes on the heels of a proposed budget that cuts police, guts road funding and raises property taxes on struggling families.  Over the past eight years, property taxes on families across Erie County increased $46,656,670. 

Comptroller Mychajliw pointed out that Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz wants to eliminate police jobs, decimate road repair funding and raise taxes while at the same time, he wants to force families to foot the bill for multiple new hires and promotions throughout 2020, despite violating his own hiring freeze to rein in spending.

“Mark Poloncarz wants to cut police, cut road repair funds and is raising your taxes.  At the same time, he promoted friends and his own family this year.  The County Executive hired a lot of people when he forced others to abide by a so-called ‘hiring freeze.’ Do as I say, not as I do.  Mark Poloncarz is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of taxpayers, same way he did trying to explain away his mask wearing rules without abiding by them himself.”

“Don’t let him lie to you.  Mark Poloncarz wants to punish struggling families with a tax increase.  He never followed his own order of a hiring freeze and cutting spending.  Your taxes are going up to cover the cost of his family member’s recent promotion.  Families are hurting, but not his.” said Comptroller Mychajliw.

Since the Poloncarz Administration forced other independently elected officials to a hiring freeze implemented on March 23^rd of this year, the County Executive made 77 new hires, 4 seasonal, and 19 part-time workers, and has promoted several others, including members of his own family.  Some of the new hires and promotions were within departments not considered “essential” during a COVID-19 pandemic and emergency, including Parks and Personnel.

“Mark Poloncarz is raising taxes to cover the cost of his political hires and family promotions.  Political appointees and his family haven’t had to feel the pain, while the rest of Erie County has.  His family is doing just fine. Yours is not. The privileged are protected.  Not the taxpayers.  The County Executive continued to promote friends and family, ignored his own hiring freeze, then wants to stick you with the bill,” concluded Comptroller Mychajliw.

for PDF of release, click HERE

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