JAMESTOWN – The Chautauqua County Budget that was approved by county lawmakers last month will be the final spending plan for 2013. Chautauqua County Executive Greg Edwards released a statement on Friday afternoon stating that even though he disagreed with a couple of amendments in the spending plan approved by the Chautauqua County Legislature on Oct. 24, he would not use his line-item veto power to remove the amendments due to the budget being approved by 19 of the legislature’s 25 members. That means that there would be enough of the 17 votes required to override any veto he puts forward.
Edwards says the two main budget changes that he takes issue with are the legislature’s decision raid the county fund balance, bringing it well below the minimum established by the NYS Comptroller. He added that the decision will weaken the county’s fiscal position, violate its own fiscal management policy, and will likely result in the downgrading of it bond rating.
The county executive was also disappointed the legislature opted to reduce the amount of IGT funding that would be going to the Chautauqua County Home as a way to reduce local spending. However, Edwards points out that by reducing the local share to the IGT (Intergovernmental Transfer Program), fund, the county will miss out on matching funding from the federal government. Edwards says the Center for Governmental Research consulting firm had suggested the county take full advantage of that federal grant program to help the county home’s finances and he’s disappointed the legislature did not head that recommendation.
In closing, Edwards said that as a result of the legislature’s amended budget, the reduction in the tax in 2013 will create an even larger deficit for 2014.
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