By Eric O'Connor
Buffalo, NY – "I gave a budget party and no one came," were the words of County Legislator Al DeBenedetti Tuesday in County Hall's empty legislature chamber. Mid-year budget hearings were scheduled to discuss the county's multi-million dollar budget gap.
But according to DeBenedetti, Legislature Chairman George Holt cancelled the hearings at the request of County Executive Joel Giambra.
"This a matter to be worked out with Chairman Holt," DeBenedetti said. "I believe he clearly has overstepped his bounds as chairman of the Legislature. I also believe he may be well-intended, but all he's doing here is falling into the trap of pacifying the county executive."
By all accounts, Erie county is heading for a severe budget crisis due to rising Medicaid and pension costs. The budget hearings have been rescheduled for September, but DeBenedetti said there is still a sense of urgency on his part to solve the problem.