After laying off probation officers, sheriff's personnel and social services workers to wrestle together this year's budget, many lawmakers were not eager to be seen allowing more patronage.

County Legislature Chairman George A. Holt Jr., D-Buffalo, sent the request to a committee Thursday when he saw that it was destined to fail.

"We didn't have the votes. That's the bottom line," said Holt, who agreed that the board needs more resources.

Seven lawmakers are not running for re-election, which has encouraged a bumper crop of candidates. In a news conference Thursday, a dozen Republicans amplified their call for reform by saying the Legislature should be reduced from 15 members to nine.

Terms should change from two years to four, with a two-term maximum, they said, and elected officials who fail to do their jobs should be subject to recall. They also recommended a cap on government spending based on inflation and population growth. The 12 candidates want the ideas put before voters.

Soon afterward, county comptroller candidate Mark Poloncarz told reporters that if County Executive Joel A. Giambra thinks he solved the budget crisis by refinancing the county's tobacco proceeds, he is wrong. The government still faces a deficit of about $100 million next year, he said, and closing this year's deficit with tobacco money means that it will no longer be there for important projects. So officials will need to borrow millions for such projects, he said.

Poloncarz, a Democrat heading toward a September primary election, surrounded himself with young children to say their futures have been jeopardized by poor decisions on taxes and spending.

Inside legislative chambers Thursday, lawmakers were not willing to act on Giambra's request to rehire a full-time and a part-time worker for his budget office.

He said he needs them to shape the 2006 budget and draft the four-year financial plan that must get to the state financial control board by Oct. 1. But lawmakers had little enthusiasm for Giambra's item, especially after learning that he wants to rehire Lauren Panaro to the full-time job.

Panaro is married to a nephew of Giambra's late stepfather. She was laid off by the Legislature when it gutted Giambra's patronage machine early this year.

Giambra's aides Thursday circulated Panaro's resume to show her qualifications: She is a certified public accountant who graduated from Canisius College and finished first on her exam when hired by the county in 2000.

Still, Giambra's request was shunted to a committee, just like the Board of Elections matter.

Lawmakers freed $6.7 million in a road-repair reserve fund, which is created by a fee paid when people buy and sell real estate. Legislators this year had explored the idea of using the money to support general government needs but never won state approval to do so.

Some county lawmakers thought they should continue to hold the money in reserve, because it will be needed for 2006. But most, representing suburban districts, wanted the money spent as intended - resurfacing stretches of 59 county roads.

Holt won the right to hire lawyers, at $9,500 for the rest of the year, to advise his caucus as it braces for the next budget. But the vote to hire attorneys Loren D. Lobban of Buffalo and H. Todd Bullard, also a Monroe County legislator, divided the Democrats.

Majority Leader Lynn M. Marinelli of the Town of Tonawanda and Legislators Timothy M. Kennedy of South Buffalo and Timothy M. Wroblewski of West Seneca opposed hiring the lawyers.

The measure passed, 9-6, after Holt reached for four Republican votes.