As your representative in the Erie County Legislature, I am committed to ensuring transparency in how your tax dollars are spent. That is why I introduced the Tax Dollar Disclosure Act. This crucial measure will empower taxpayers by providing a detailed, searchable database that shows which organizations receive public funds, the criteria used for their selection, and all other relevant information. This act is designed to make it easy for you, the taxpayer, to see exactly where your money is going and hold elected officials accountable for their spending decisions.
Recently, the Legislature Democratic majority diverted $2 million from a fund initially intended for cultural organizations across Erie County. This fund, originally supported by $25 million from the American Rescue Plan, was meant for cultural organizations to apply for capital investments. Last year, legislators bypassed this application process and gave themselves $1 million each to distribute to their chosen organizations. Two weeks ago, the Democratic majority depleted the remaining funds, directing $2 million to organizations and municipalities only represented by Democrats. Party politics should not influence how tax dollars are spent, especially when it comes to supporting organizations like history museums, youth programs, and senior centers. This blatant misuse of funds highlights the urgent need for the Tax Dollar Disclosure Act to ensure transparency and accountability in government spending.
This week, we are holding midyear budget hearings. Historically, county department heads are invited to engage in these meetings and answer questions about their financial expectations for the remainder of the year and the next. However, the Democratic majority decided only to invite the Erie County Comptroller and Budget Director and designated one hour to discuss a 1.9-billion-dollar budget. Since the November election, both the Erie County Comptroller and Budget Director have warned of a potential financial shortcoming, while County Executive Mark Poloncarz insists that Erie County’s financial state is strong. By excluding department heads, we are denied the opportunity to get a complete picture of Erie County’s financial outlook. We cannot perform our roles as legislators effectively without comprehensive input from all departments. Today, I clocked in a letter formally expressing my concerns to Chairwoman Baskin and Majority Leader Tim Myers about this complete dereliction of duty and request for a proper mid-year budget hearing.
This blatant misuse of funds and frivolous attitude about the severity of our financial position only highlights the urgent need for the Tax Dollar Disclosure Act to ensure transparency and accountability in government spending. Nevertheless, I remain steadfast in my commitment to passing this law. Transparency is not a partisan issue; it is a fundamental principle of good governance that serves the best interests of all taxpayers.
I remain dedicated to fighting for transparency, accountability, and effective governance in Erie County. Your tax dollars deserve to be spent and monitored responsibly, and I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that they are.
As always, if you have any comments, or a county-related issue, contact my office at 716-858-8922 or by email Lindsay.Lorigo@erie.gov.
