Budget is fiscally irresponsible

Supervisor Satish Mohan's proposed 2008 Amherst budget makes it clear why he is backing Barry Weinstein to head the Republican ticket for Amherst town councilman in this year's election. Mohan, presumably with the help of Deputy Supervisor Roy Wixson, is using Giambra math - the same math that, as an Erie County legislator, Weinstein supported in every vote for Giambra budgets in his first four terms as a county legislator. This is what brought down Erie County government and gave us the Erie County Control Board.

First, Supervisor Mohan has increased government spending from $107.8 million in 2007 to $115.8 million in 2008. Second, he is raiding the town's fund balance to the extent of $6.5 million to hide his increased spending. The $6.5 million from the town's fund balance is money needed for emergencies and to maintain Amherst's high bond rating so that we can borrow money for much-needed capital projects (such as flood control). The supervisor already used $2.8 million in fund balance money last year. Third, he misleads taxpayers by claiming that the tax levy went down. But he is spending more. The practice of raiding Erie County's fund balance is what Weinstein introduced within days of Joel Giambra's being elected to office in 1999. We do not need or want that for Amherst.

As candidates for the Town Board, we support fiscal responsibility. We want to uncover waste with annual internal audits using a qualified accounting firm, re-establish a fair and cost-effective 100 percent assessment system, establish a townwide purchasing system and ask for taxpayer input regarding the services provided by the town.

Raiding the fund balance to try to hide an increase in the budget, whether by Mohan, Weinstein or anyone, is irresponsible and shortsighted.

Robert Foladare,

Jerome Schad and

Mark Manna Amherst Town Board

candidates