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Collins Expected to Veto Some Budget Additions

By Joyce Kryszak

Buffalo, NY – The celebration could be over Monday for some of the organizations that received extra money in the budget approved last week by Erie County lawmakers. County Executive Chris Collins is expected to veto some of the amendments Monday.

Click the audio player above to hear Joyce Kryszak's full story now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.

The lobbying by advocates has gone on for a week to protect millions of additional dollars approved by lawmakers. The Democratic majority added two million back in for health care clinics and more than a million for culturals groups, including some not previously funded. The community college got more money. A summer youth program was funded and a distressed housing fund was established.

And that's not the complete list. The county executive's spokesman Grant Loomis said Collins will surely reject some of it.

Loomis would not say which amendments might be in the cross hairs. Some stand a better chance of withstanding a legislature over ride. And then there are other amendments that Collins said he might wait until next year to undo. Collins is counting on a more cooperative batch of newly elected lawmakers to reverse some of the additions.

Loomis said lawmakers - and the public - might find out that lawmakers funded the amendments with vacant jobs money that simply isn't there.

But putting off the pain won't be of much help to many organizations that are counting on the money as a cushion through the next couple of difficult fiscal years. The Buffalo and Erie County Public Library system could lose $500,000 if Collins vetos the amendment approved by lawmakers. Library Director Bridget Quinn Carey said state budget cuts are already cutting into their slim reserves.

The "plan B" for lawmakers will be to attempt on Tuesday to over-ride any vetos that Collins makes.