By Joyce Kryszak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-789560.mp3
Buffalo, NY – Not-for-Profit organizations from across the state are banding together to urge the governor to rethink his plan to slash two billion dollars from the budget. And local organizations are taking that same message to Erie County lawmakers Wednesday evening with a rally on the steps of County Hall.
The trouble on Wall Street is already making its way to Erie County. The Erie County Executive heeded the governor's warning that the entire state will have to do some serious belt tightening. The county's proposed 2009 budget includes cuts in jobs and services, backs out of the city parks agreement and leaves nothing to renegotiate union contracts.
Allison Duwe is Executive Director for the Coalition for Economic Justice, a member of the statewide Partnership for the Public Good. She says the proposed local cuts are a trickle-down effect of a wrong-headed approach to the crisis.
Although county lawmakers agree that the state and Washington should do more to help - they're bracing for what are seen as inevitable cuts in state aid. And because lawmakers are loathe to raise property taxes - the cuts to county services and not-for-profits could go even deeper than the county executive proposed. Duwe says the partnership believes there is strength in numbers. And she says they will keep pushing for real long-term solutions.
The rally is being held Wednesda afternoon immediately before the Legislature's public hearing on the proposed 2009 county budget. The hearing begins at 5:00 in legislature chambers.
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