We started the month in the Legislature by voting to approve the new Buffalo Bills stadium agreement. Through re-negotiating the terms, which my caucus and I advocated for, we were able to pay more of the county’s $250 million obligation with cash. That means a savings of at least $80 million in interest to taxpayers. In addition, Erie County will no longer be on the hook for future upkeep.
The impact of this vote and this project significantly impacts my district. It was a monumental vote by any measure, a $1.54 billion investment. Over the course of our meetings with stakeholders, it was important to me that the concerns of the residents of Orchard Park, specifically those living near the stadium, were heard. After all, this will be a multi-year project, and I wanted to be assured that quality of life issues were being addressed. I remain hopeful that Orchard Park will benefit in numerous ways. One positive is the number of jobs this project will create. That’s year-round work, and their presence should also mean additional cash-flow for local businesses.
The law providing tax exemptions to volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers passed in the Legislature. That’s a good first step toward providing assistance where we can to our volunteer first responders constantly faced with the challenges of recruitment and retention. I did support the allocation of dollars for a paid ambulance service to provide backup when our volunteers are unavailable. My reasons for not supporting the other part of that proposal are simply we did not have discussions with the various entities on how best to implement this plan.
The recently passed New York State budget was unfair to local communities. As the state continues to expand Medicaid, more than any other state, they hit us with the bill. Over the past many years, the federal government allocated dollars for local governments to help fund this expensive program. This year the Governor decided to hold on to that money, meaning Erie County loses between $26.6 million and $41 million just this year. More troubling, New York State has a budget surplus of more than $8 billion, yet they are holding on to money intended for counties.
We have expanded the storefront revitalization program, providing funds to local businesses for storefront improvements. This is helpful to the many business owners that struggled to re-emerge post-pandemic. It is also an investment in our larger community.
I’m proud to have secured funding for many organizations in my district; including those that perform outreach to the needy and those that provide public safety in our rural communities. Additionally, the libraries, important assets and gathering spots in our towns and villages are receiving additional funds.
A reminder that our beautiful parks are a great place to gather with loved ones for reunions, graduation or birthday celebrations. You can reserve a shelter for your event by going to our website at www.erie.gov
If you need any assistance with a county issue, you can reach my office at (716) 858-8850 or by email at John.Mills@erie.gov
