By Mike Desmond

December 6, 2011

BUFFALO, N.Y. (wned) – County Executive Collins says he will leave alone the budget legislators adopted Tuesday afternoon, saying County Executive-elect Poloncarz has to govern under budget priorities the incoming leader identified during the process.

Legislators passed the modified spending plan 13-1, with only outgoing Legislator Dino Fudoli opposed, one of his last actions before becoming Lancaster supervisor

The budget doesn’t raise taxes but was changed to retain dozens of county workers slated to be laid off. It provides for restoration of the county’s rat control program, puts more money into roads and bridges and more money into cultural organizations that were excluded last year.

County Executive-elect Poloncarz says the budget is a good compromise.

“It was a united effort, a biparisan effort between Democrats and Republicans, as well as the current County Executive Chris Collins,” Poloncarz said. “I think this is a win for all the people of Erie County in that the things that people spoke about, rodent control and arts and culturals, will be funded and we’re not raising taxes.”

There was little rancor about the spending plan, which went through in less than an hour, far quicker than in many past years.

Outgoing Majority Leader Maria Whyte says many fiscal problems remain to be dealt with next year, including bargaining contracts with public employee unions, many of which wouldn’t go along with changes recommended by Collins.

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wned/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1882774/WNED-AM.970.NEWS/Erie.County.Legislature.Approves.Amended.Budget

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