County has shown concern for bridge, road repairs
JOEL GIAMBRA Erie County Executive
The horrific collapse of the bridge in Minnesota has everyone questioning the condition of the bridges and roads in Erie County. This is an issue that I have been in the forefront of during the past seven years.

When I took office in 2000, Erie County's bridges and roads had been neglected to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. The entire 90s saw little capital spending on the county's roadways, despite a higher property tax rate than what you pay right now.

It is true that the last administration left behind a large surplus. It is also true that the yearly tax increases went toward that surplus and not the County infrastructure. A New York State study done in 2001 estimated that the sorry condition of Erie County roads and bridges would need more than $400 million in repairs.

The record shows that the County has spent more in road and bridge repair the past seven years than the entire 1990s. Even so, the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority has been preaching for a debt diet and less capital borrowing to improve and fix our roadways.

Unlike the City of Buffalo, Erie County is well below our taxable limit. The debt service for Erie County is also well within approved national standards. Yet, when this administration brought the borrowing and spending plan to the Control Board and Legislature for repair to our bridges and roads, it was slashed.

Now there has been an outcry for money to be spent on patching the roads and doing the normal summer maintenance. When we warned of this back in October of 2006 it fell on deaf ears. The Control Board suggested that we take available cash as it becomes available and use it for repairs as needed.

That meant using up any surplus that a proper budgeting process would produce and yet not being able to address the major construction and repairs our infrastructure needs. We have always stated that if you fix the hole in the roof today you avoid paying for a new roof tomorrow. If you fix the small dip in the road today you also avoid building a new stretch of road tomorrow.

Hopefully the next administration will continue to address the issue of major capital expenditures on roads and bridges. Thank God, despite the lack of attention to our roads and bridges in the 90s, Erie County did not experience the type of tragedy that occurred in Minnesota. My administration has addressed this issue and in turn created hundreds and hundreds of construction jobs which allowed that investment to quadruple within our own community. Hold the next administration accountable when it comes to the safety of your family and loved ones. I have tried my very best to do just that and will continue that effort in my remaining months.