By Staff
Buffalo, NY – The Erie County Legislature Tuesday afternoon formally rejected an increase in the sales tax. The vote was nine votes against the increase, six in favor.
The vote was actually taken Monday night, but the meeting was recessed before it was entered into the record. Lawmakers were given a chance to change their votes Tuesday. None did. And that means a proposed three-quarters of a percent increase in the sales tax was defeated.
The challenge now before legislators is to make additional cuts, on top of the $40 million they made Monday night, to close the remaining gap in the current year's budget.
State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Makowski has given the Legislature until Thursday to balance the 2005 county budget or the court will intervene.