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BUFFALO NEWS Changes to Charter will Strengthen Comptroller's Powers By LYNN MARINELLI July 19, 2006
The Erie County Legislature's approval of 33 Charter Review Commission recommendations on July 13 does not end the charter's review, the county executive's action or the public's involvement in the ongoing process.
Following eight months of deliberations and four public hearings, the Legislature voted to strengthen financial oversight and budgetary structure through increasing the powers of the county comptroller. We authorized the comptroller to also declare a deficit, review revenue projections and allow the Legislature to reduce such projections by a two-thirds majority vote.
The legislators voted 15-0 to strengthen the comptroller's authority.
The Legislature also accepted the commission's recommendation to strengthen the way in which county budgets are voted on, approved and monitored by the County Legislature. This change will help to ensure that future budgets include programmatic budgeting, cost accounting and voting on each individual line.
We have directed that further committee deliberations be conducted on changes concerning the Department of Social Services, public safety and campaign solicitations. These are extremely important areas, and we believe that further consideration is warranted.
An in-depth examination of the Social Services Department is a necessity. Human service delivery is the prime county government mission. We need to look at cost savings, improved efficiencies and mandated or contractual compliance requirements.
The Legislature voted against the proposed county manager-county executive hybrid form of government because of concerns over the cost of the new position and adding another layer of bureaucracy.
At the four public hearings held, only one Erie County citizen voiced support for the hybrid proposal.
The Legislature's next step is to begin deliberations and approve any local laws pertaining to the charter recommendations we approved last week. The county executive would then hold a public hearing and either approve or veto. If vetoed, the County Legislature can override with at least a 10-5 vote. Language is then submitted to the Board of Elections for items requiring voter approval.
For many years, over-estimating revenue projections and under-estimating the cost of large expenses had been standard operating procedure in Erie County. This will no longer be the case.
We will have the comptroller - the chief fiscal officer in Erie County - review the revenue projections and large expense estimates to determine their suitability. With the guidance of the comptroller, this body will help forge a budget that is not only balanced on paper, but balanced in reality as well.
As chair, my bottom line when voting on the charter recommendations was simply whether or not they assisted in forging future budget and fiscal stability or would increase costs. I chose to only vote for cost savings.
Lynn Marinelli is chairperson of the Erie County Legislature.
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