By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – There seems to be some disagreement between Erie County Executive Joel Giambra and county legislators over the magnitude of budget cuts that were made in March.
When the County Legislature fell short of the two-thirds majority needed to increase the sales tax, lawmakers were forced to make corresponding cuts totaling $108 million to the budget. It was thought they did that in March, bringing the current year's budget into balance. But since then, deficit projections have exploded to as much as $113 million. County Executive Joel Giambra is now saying the cuts made by the Legislature were actually closer to $48 million. And that, he says, is what's causing the problem.
"Now, if they were correct, there wouldn't be an issue of a deficit," Giambra said. "The Legislature did not take action to reduce spending by the $108 million to offset the revenue they failed to enact."
But that's news to Legislature Majority Leader Lynn Marinelli.
"It was our understanding that we were close to that $108 million figure," Marinelli said. "Isn't this what has been the problem? They keep coming up with differing sets of numbers, and are expecting the Legislature to make decisions based on those numbners."
Giambra is once again pushing for a temporary six-month penny increase in the sales tax to help close the current year's deficit. Failing that, he says bringing in a control board may be the only option left.