By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority is calling on the Legislature and County Executive to resolve their budget dispute. The county control board met Monday. The board also accuses the county of putting up roadblocks to borrowing.
Control board chairman Robert Glaser says the failure to resolve the 2009 budget has resulted in two different tax levies. County Executive Chris Collins wants to raise property taxes to balance the budget, but lawmakers say he doesn't have the authority to do so. Glaser says the board's biggest concern is receiving a balanced budget. Glaser is calling on both sides to resolve the matter and avoid a lawsuit.
The control board says it is the County Executive who legally sets the tax levy. Board member Ken Kruly says if the budget stalemate isn't resolved, there could be some trouble in issuing property tax bills.
And in the midst of the budget battle, the control board is also accusing an unidentified county leader of putting up significant roadblocks in completing short term borrowing. The board needs to borrow $40 million so the county can begin paying vendors for capital projects already completed. The Legislature approved the borrowing back in September. But board vice chair Joseph Goodell says their effort was "sabotaged." But board members refused to say who they think called Moody's. The control board says this is the third time the county has backed out of a borrowing agreement.
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