Yea, I know, it’s like comparing apples and oranges.
Still, it’s interesting to see how the haves continue to take while the have-nots avoid the temptation.
I’m talking about comparing the Erie County and Erie City budgets for 2008.
As governments go, Erie County is, at first glance, pretty flush.
Council sits on a surplus of some 12 million dollars, and is looking to collect another 11 million in windfall from the opening of Presque Isle Downs and Casino.
Despite having a few bills to rub together, County Council voted to raise taxes for homeowners AND dip into gaming reserves to balance the $78 million 2008 budget.
Last week this space argued against using gaming funds, arguably set aside for long term “transformational” projects, to fund monthly operating costs.
But in a move that surprised not very many, no one listened to me.
Only one person addressed the idea of cutting out costs instead of raising tax dollars.
“There was no place to cut.” Council President Fiore Leone said.
In contrast, Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott gave Erie City Council a balanced $57 million budget that calls for no tax or fee increases.
The city has pretty much Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah in the reserve accounts after years of overspending and can only hope that gaming payments to regional assets can lower the burden on city coffers.
Yet Mayor Sinnott presents a budget that holds the line, despite annual cost of living increases, due in no small part to the fact that the city has cut 200 jobs, a full 25 percent out of the workforce in the last two years.
Yea, like I said, it’s like comparing apples and oranges.
The City is up against the wall, looking at the possibility of state receivership, and it is in that pressure that political leaders find the will to make the hard decisions.
The County, by contrast, is in no such furnace so there is no impetus to make tough calls while there is still room to maneuver.
For Erie County taxpayers, it appears that things will have to worse, before they get any better.