By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Erie County's top fiscal watchdog is weighing in on the County Executive's proposed budget for 2005.
Erie County Comptroller Nancy Naples is calling Joel Giambra's "red" budget a "dark day" for county residents. In a letter to Giambra and the Legislature Naples said the red budget is not a reasonable spending plan because it eliminates all non-mandated funding.
Naples says if the red budget is adopted, it would cripple county services and create an unacceptable environment for many citizens. Naples is calling on the Legislature and Giambra to work together to create a reasonable budget.
But the Comptroller does agree that there is a need to continue to fight for Medicaid reform in Albany. Naples says without it, every county in the state would become insolvent.
A final county spending plan must be in place by December 14th.