Hometown News: County Budget Battle

Legislators passed a budget for Erie County last week, but County Executive Chris Collins is not pleased and plans to issue vetoes today, with legislators attempting an override them tomorrow. Lawmakers restored funding to several quality-of-life, cultural, and youth programs, while cutting over five-point-two-million dollars from the county's vehicle use funds. Collins put that revenue in the overall general budget, but the legislators have reallocated it to the Erie County Clerk's office. The final property tax rate for 2009 is scheduled to be set this Thursday.