County Executive Commends Legislature’s Bi-Partisan Action

ERIE COUNTY, NY— Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz issued the following statement regarding the Erie County Legislature’s 8-2 passage of a resolution opposing the creation of a special library taxing district, a proposal advocated as a funding mechanism by the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. The taxing district proposal would need approval by the Erie County Legislature, the New York State Assembly & Senate, and NYS Governor Cuomo before it could take effect.

“I commend the Erie County Legislature for their thoughtful, bi-partisan approach to this issue and for joining me in opposing the creation of a special library taxing district. My administration has worked with the legislature to restore library funding, provide capital funds and allocate monies for the purchase of a new bookmobile. We share a commitment to our libraries and fully realize how important they are to our community, while also realizing that Erie County residents cannot be saddled with yet another taxing district. Rather than adding taxes and unnecessary layers of government to support libraries, we remain committed to a bi-partisan budgetary approach that will fully fund our libraries and provide residents with the library system they expect and deserve.”