By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Erie County lawmakers voted Tuesday to over-ride three vetoes, putting back in five new county jobs. They total roughly $230,000 a year. But county executive Chris Collins is probably not losing any sleep over it. That's a pittance compared to the millions Collins plans to erase from the amended budget next year.
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Collins must approve contracts with culturals and other groups given extra funding by lawmakers. That includes $100,000 PUSH, People United for Sustainable Housing. Lawmakers over-rode a Collins veto and put the money back in - if Collins signs the contract.
Outgoing lawmaker Bob Reynolds chaired the distressed property task force. Reynolds said Collins should carefully consider how he uses his power. He said the public supports the funding to resolve distressed city housing.
But Collins doesn't plan to stand in the way on all the extra cultural funding.
That's despite the fact that Collins said the money lawmakers earmarked for the project from a turnover account doesn't exist. The $300,000 amendment was added to the budget in the budget process'final days by lawmaker Barbara Miller Williams. She very recently won enough bi-partisan support from incoming Republicans and Democrats to be named chairwoman.
Collins would like to see Chairwoman Lynn Marinelli replaced. Marinelli said she supports the funding for the Colored Musicians Club. But she said she does not support Collins using approval of the funding to influence a leadership vote.
The politics could get sticky. Collins also is counting on cooperation next year from lawmakers to close two east side health clinics. Democrats firmly backed the two million dollars in funding needed to keep the clinics open.