By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – The Erie County Legislature received kudos from the County's Fiscal Stability Authority Wednesday. But the control board once again is taking the County Executive to task.
The control board last month said it wanted the county to hold the line on borrowing. Wednesday, they said they are satisfied with the $12 million cap lawmakers set as a compromise. And the control board sent a strong caution to the County Executive that he should not ask for any more than that. Board member Ken Kruly says you don't have to borrow money to get projects done.
But County Executive Joel Giambra has told officials he will not back down from his original capital borrow request of roughly $22 million. The list includes everything from mandated projects to road work and a rain forest for the zoo.
Following Wednesday's meeting, legislature Chairwoman Lynn Marinelli said lawmakers will also not pare the list. She says lawmakers will vote down a bond resolution that comes in higher than the $12 million cap. Even with the tighter controls, members of the control board said a tax increase for 2007 is inevitable.
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