Fiscal stability, service delivery are goals of county budget
LYNN MARINELLI Legislature Chairperson
Despite a hard control board, the elected Erie County Legislature's duty is to approve an annual

Erie County budget. The Legislature's goal is to amend and adopt a balanced budget that reflects fiscal stability and the efficient delivery of services.

The Legislature has completed interviewing county department heads as a first step in the 2007 budget process following many hours of hearings by the Finance, Management and Budget Committee.

Committee members and legislators are studying budget cost centers to contain costs while preserving basic services and fulfilling mandates imposed on counties by the state and federal governments. We have very limited control of mandated costs, which are the biggest percentage of yearly costs. Discretionary spending such as parks, libraries and culturals is a small part of the budget. Hopefully, new leadership in Albany will work toward reducing the cost of state mandates such as Medicaid and incarceration supervision.

The Legislature will hold its budget public hearing at

5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27, in the Legislature chambers on the fourth floor of Old County Hall, 92 Franklin