Erie County Executive Chris Collins has submitted a new Four-Year Financial Plan to the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority. The plan is balanced and does not include out year budget gaps or an increase in the County property tax rate. The Four-Year Plan is a management tool that provides an outlook on county finances through 2014. The new plan is based not only on the 2011 Adopted Budget, but final financial results for 2010 and the first quarter of 2011.
“I am very proud of this plan as it is realistic, reasonable, and most importantly, a reflection of the no-nonsense approach to budgeting my administration has taken from day one,” said Erie County Executive Chris Collins. “We continue to hold the line on taxes, use recurring revenues to pay for recurring expenses, and eliminate over $190 million of taxpayer debt over the next several years. Let there be no mistake, Erie County is in solid financial shape. To achieve this sort of budget, you have to be willing to make tough decisions. The same decisions many Erie County families are making with their own finances.”
Shortly after Erie County Executive Chris Collins submitted a new Four-year Financial Plan he called “realistic, reasonable, and most importantly, a reflection of the no-nonsense approach to budgeting my administration has taken from day one” to the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority on Monday, County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz issued a statement condemning the proposal.
“This revised Four-Year plan appears to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Using the County’s fund balance for future expenses is not balancing a budget—a lesson we learned the hard way with the ‘Red-Green’ fiscal crisis. Additionally, the phantom savings from Lean Six Sigma initiatives that the Collins administration is citing to cut an additional 300 jobs are not supportable by any data provided,” Poloncarz’ statement read.
“As he has done in the past in an effort to save a buck, instead of cutting his high-paid patronage employees, or not spending top-dollar on outside lawyers to argue his frivolous lawsuits, Collins is going after the lower-wage jobs that directly impact the quality of service provided to the taxpayer.”
The Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority is expected to vote on the new Four-Year Plan on June 13.