One of the Legislature’s most important responsibilities doesn’t happen when we pass the budget. It happens months later, when we review how taxpayer dollars are actually being spent.
This week, the Erie County Legislature is conducting our mid-year budget hearings. These hearings give legislators the opportunity to meet directly with department leaders, review spending, discuss ongoing projects, and ask questions about how county government is operating. We examine whether departments are staying within their approved budgets, whether programs are meeting their goals, and whether there are opportunities to improve efficiency.
While budgets are adopted at the beginning of the year, our responsibility doesn’t end there. Good government requires ongoing oversight, transparency, and accountability throughout the entire year. Taxpayers deserve to know that their money is being spent responsibly and that county government is focused on delivering the services residents rely on.
This year’s hearings are especially important. There is uncertainty surrounding federal funding, New York State continues to impose costly mandates on counties, and this year’s state budget was adopted more than two months late, making it more difficult for local governments to plan responsibly. While we cannot control decisions made in Albany or Washington, we can control how Erie County spends your tax dollars.
That means looking for opportunities to eliminate waste, operate more efficiently, and make responsible decisions that allow us to continue providing the quality programs and services residents expect. Fiscal responsibility is not about cutting services that people depend on; it is about ensuring county government is sustainable and that every dollar is being used effectively.
I am also proud to have introduced a local law that would expand property tax relief for our most severely disabled veterans. The legislation would authorize a 100% property tax exemption for veterans who have been determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to be permanently and totally disabled because of their military service.
These men and women sacrificed so much in service to our country, and many continue to live with the lasting impacts of those sacrifices. While we can never fully repay what they have given, we can recognize their service and provide meaningful support. I look forward to discussing this proposal with my colleagues in the coming weeks.
Many of you have also asked about Erie County’s hospitality suite at the new Highmark Stadium. I proposed an amendment that would have prohibited elected officials from using the suite because I believe public resources should benefit the public, not politicians. Although that amendment was not adopted, local nonprofit and charitable organizations are eligible to apply to use the suite during the upcoming season. Applications close on July 24.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your Erie County Legislator. If I can assist you with a county-related issue, please contact my office at 716-858-8922 or Lindsay.Lorigo@erie.gov. You can also follow my Facebook page, Legislator Lindsay Lorigo, for updates on county government and issues affecting our community.
