Chairwoman Marinelli details 2008 county budget process
LYNN MARINELLI Legislature Chairperson
The Erie County Legislature began its budget deliberations upon receipt of the executive's proposed budget on Oct. 15.

Members of the legislature and its Finance, Management and Budget Committee will work with County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz to ensure that projected costs and anticipated revenues are structurally balanced in the proposed 2008 budget.

The goals of budget deliberations are to maintain necessary services while holding spending and taxes to specific levels.

Along with efforts to hold the line on expenditures, the County Legislature continues to work for a reduction in unfunded state and federal mandates that affect more than 85 percent of the county's yearly budget.

Two major components of the proposed 2008 budget will be the determination of the anticipated revenues from the proposed tax lien sale and resolution of the issue regarding who will be responsible for capital borrowing.

According to the county's budget office, the overall proposed $1.45 billion 2008 budget projects that there will be a tax lien sale at the end of 2008 on uncollected taxes of about $17 million. Furthermore, the executive's budget assumes a tax lien sale in 2008 will generate $4.6 million more revenue than the 2007 budget contained. Resolution of the tax lien sale contract and its anticipated revenues, therefore, are critical parts of budget deliberations over the next few weeks.

A major part of legislative budget deliberations will be public hearings conducted by the Finance, Management and Budget Committee, chaired by Legislator Robert B. Reynolds Jr. The committee has announced its budget schedule, which is:

• Oct. 18 - Special session to refer budget to Finance, Management

and Budget Committee. Analysis to follow.

• Oct. 30 - Presentation of budget to committee by budget director

• Nov. 12-16 - Departmental budget presentations to committee

• Nov. 20 - Public hearing at 5 p.m. at Erie County Hall, 92 Franklin St., Buffalo

• Nov. 26-28 - Departmental callbacks, if necessary

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• Nov. 30 - Tentative special session to approve 2008 budget (the legislature has until the first Tuesday in December to adopt the budget)

The Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority will be asked for its review and comment as part of the budget review process.

The chairwoman will request a meeting with the newly elected Erie County Executive on Nov. 7 to give him meaningful input into the budget deliberations.

Constituents are encouraged to contact their legislators with any questions or comments, particularly on budgetary matters. Legislators' contact information can be obtained by calling 858-7500, or through www.erie.gov/legislature. District 11 residents should call 832-0493, or e-mail Marinelli@ erie. gov.