Collins Vetoes Nearly $800,000 In Legislature Spending

December 8, 2008

Calls on Majority to let vetoes stand

Erie County Executive Chris Collins has delivered his 2009 Budget Veto Message to the Legislature today. Collins is vetoing nearly $800,000 in additional spending that was included in the Legislature Majority's amendments to Collins' proposed budget.

"This additional pork-barrel spending is not a good investment of taxpayer dollars and I encourage the Legislature to let my vetoes stand," said Collins. "Instead of running County government like a business using proven business methods, the Legislature Majority has unfortunately returned to an era of pork-barrel spending and fiscal planning based on election year politics."

In addition to unnecessary spending being vetoed by the County Executive, the Legislature Majority's budget amendments total more than $10.6 million in errors and fiscal recklessness that violate the Erie County Charter, the Erie County Code, New York State law and long-established jurisprudence. As a result, the Legislature has raised the tax rate higher than the County Executive's proposed budget. Collins' vetoes of the Majority's additional pork-barrel spending help to minimize the higher tax rate.

The County Executive has directed his senior management team to determine a method to return excess tax dollars to Erie County taxpayers.

"My responsibly conservative proposed budget reflects tough decisions made in historically challenging times that preserved the long-term fiscal stability of Erie County," said Collins. "It is in this light that I have conducted my charter mandated review of the Legislature's amendments and put forth my veto message. I am hopeful the Legislature Majority will do the right thing for the hardworking taxpayers of this community and uphold these vetoes."