WNED: Control Board Questions County Budget Plan (2006-08-24)
    BUFFALO (2006-08-24) Members of the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority say they need a little more time to study County Executive Giambra’s revised 4 year financial plan.

    During a meeting Wednesday, control board members picked apart the complicated plan that would give the county more cash by using state property tax aid to end sales tax revenue sharing with local school districts.

    Board Chairman Anthony Baynes says while the plan would provide more cash for the county, it doesn’t cut spending.

    “They still haven’t addressed that re-engineering question…it’s all about increasing taxes,” Baynes said.

    Baynes also urged members of the Erie County Legislature to quickly review the Giambra proposal and decide whether members support it. The legislature is currently on summer recess and is not scheduled to meet again until Sept. 14.

    Meanwhile, Legislator Barry Weinstein says getting Giambra’s sales tax proposal approved by the end of the year may be impossible.

    “The sales tax agreement requires a one year notice period,” Weinstein said.

    The changes in sales tax distribution would have to be approved by the county, the state, the control board and Erie County’s three cities.

They are absolutely correct, Giambra and the majority in the legislature refuse to even look at the restructuring of county government. The only ones putting forward anything that calls for cuts, reductions and restructuring government is the Republicans and Locklear & Konst. Of course their ideas are sent to committee whaer all good ideas go to die, never to see the light of day.

I am really getting fedup with the majority meeting with the Democrat Party heads, away from the legislature and then putting forth their agenda to be voted on knowing the results of the vote before it hits the floor. The Republicans and the two Dems get the agenda and have no idea what is in the bills and are expected to vote on them. It’s Albany politics here and Marinelli is the Sheldon Silver of Erie County, or is it Hoyt, or Lenihan?

Oh to be a fly…….