Erie County Lawmakers Approve Budget Proposal, Collins Promises Vetoes

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) -- The final vote was 11-4, with Tom Loughran joining Republicans against the 2009 county budget proposal. County Executive Chris Collins says he will veto parts of the budget.

Republican Legislator Michael Ranzenhofer says there were not enough cuts in spending. Democrat Tom Mazur reluctantly voted for a budget he described as a work of fiction. "I didn't see one bit about...the roads, sheriff patrols. How are we going to make this more of a regional government?"

The budget restores cultural spending and eliminates Collins' proposed 3.6 percent property tax hike. Collins says lawmakers have illegally increased spending in many areas, which will result in a 35 percent tax hike. "I'm clearly going to veto the pork and patronage to reduce the amount," says Collins.

11 votes are needed to override any veto.

E-Mail Story

Print Story