Where does the Money Go in Erie County?

$513 Million into social services and Medicaid. There is only 950,000 people left in Erie County. All of that spending is mandated by Albany, all of it. More mandates from Albany in the personnel salary and benefits section of the budget. How is it that we sit back and allow Albany to tell us we have to spend, who we have to hire and what we have to supply as far as social services? Then jump into the Payroll and Pension costs. I could do this but actually try and work to make a living and that is not easy here as a contractor with such a poor population.

It’s Albanys Insanity! We continue to vote for the same people expecting different results, same thing goes for Erie County. I would love to research this social spending. How many people collect welfare, how many get section 8 rent payments, how many people get HEAP, WIC, food stamps, and how many collect SSI payments.

To be spending $513 Million into social services and Medicaid compared to the population of some where around 950,000 is absurd.

Where Does The Money Go?

The Erie County Legislature is expected to get copies of Chris Collins’ 2009 budget on Tuesday. We already know it includes a property tax increase, but what else may your money be used for?

It’s a one billion dollar budget proposal for Erie County. Here’s where the money would go; the most, $513 million, is slated for social programs and Medicaid. The second biggest chunk goes to personnel salary and benefits followed by Debt Service.

Compare that to county expenditures in 2006, obtained from the New York State Comptroller?s Office. Social services was again number one at $494 million. Followed by public safety, then something called “general government” that included administration and operation costs.

Social services is number one on both lists. The county executive says, it’s part of massive mandates from Albany. In his budget proposal, ?85 plus percent are mandates,? said Collins.

The budget includes a 3.6% property tax increase. It now goes to the county legislature. But ,Collins isn’t expecting it to breeze through.

“There will be contentious debate, there’s no doubt,” said Collins. “I removed all the legislators? pork. They all slipped it in it here there and everywhere, several million dollars of pork.”

Two examples Collins gave, $24-thousand dollars for wild cats in Buffalo and $40-thousand for the Hamburg Historical Society.

“We weren’t giving any money to any town historical society,” said Collins.

In the end, legislators still have to vote on the county executive’s plan to raise property taxes. The three republican legislators told 2 On Your Side they’ll vote against it.

As for the democrats, everyone we talked to wants to see the budget for themselves before making a decision.

If the legislature doesn’t come to an agreement by the end of the year, Collins’ budget will automatically take effect. 2 On Your Side will talk to all the legislators this week to get their take on the budget after they review it.