Won’t this be a first? Ranzenhofer a Republican appointed to the committee? I’m in shock. Last year the majority amended the budget and increased the property tax levy bu $3,250,000… What will they do this year?

EC lawmakers starting budget process - Business First of Buffalo:

As a prelude to a series of hearings to review County Executive Joel Giambra’s proposed 2008 budget, the Erie County Legislature is poised to take its first, mandated steps in the overview process.

County lawmakers are slated to meet Thursday afternoon, in a special session, to send the $1.45 billion spending package to its Finance & Management and Budget Committee for review and a series of public hearings. Legislator Michael Ranzenhofer, R-Clarence, is also expected to be appointed to the committee.

The budget must also be reviewed and approved by the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority.

The budget, by law, must be approved by no later than Tuesday, Dec. 4.

Giambra’s proposal does not call for any property tax increases and at the same time, allocates all of the bed tax dollars - roughly $5.3 million - to the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau and asks for three percent of the property tax revenues to be allocated towards funding a potpourri of cultural organizations.

var sc_project=1609654; var sc_invisible=0; var sc_partition=15; var sc_security=”26e26d49″;