Protecting the Taxpayer

Over the last four years, the County Executive has increased your taxes while reducing your services.  In 2010, the County Executive went so far as to seek a court ruling in order to raise taxes for Erie County’s residents. While the current County Executive said there wasn’t enough money for the County to provide basic health and safety services, there was enough money for him to hand out $100,000 patronage jobs to his friends. That’s a raw deal and Erie County taxpayers deserve better.

Since taking office in 2006, my staff has issued 22 audits and 32 major reviews and reports of Erie County’s expenditures. These reports and audits have identified over $27 million of potential savings. While this County Executive does not like independent oversight, the people of Erie County have been well served by my efforts to root out waste, fraud and abuse of their tax dollars. As County Executive, I will continue to be Erie County’s taxpayer advocate.

I will ensure the stability of Erie County’s finances, identify ways to provide needed services as efficiently as possible, explore new cost saving initiatives with our partners in government, and expose the waste, fraud and abuse of your hard-earned tax dollars.

To read more about how Chris Collins has cost the hard-working taxpayers of Erie County, click here: http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/erie-county/article183176.ece