Where Does The Money Go?

The Erie County Legislature is expected to get copies of Chris Collins' 2009 budget on Tuesday. We already know it includes a property tax increase, but what else may your money be used for?

It's a one billion dollar budget proposal for Erie County. Here's where the money would go; the most, $513 million, is slated for social programs and Medicaid. The second biggest chunk goes to personnel salary and benefits followed by Debt Service.

Compare that to county expenditures in 2006, obtained from the New York State Comptroller?s Office.  Social services was again number one at $494 million. Followed by public safety, then something called "general government" that included administration and operation costs.

Social services is number one on both lists. The county executive says, it's part of massive mandates from Albany. In his budget proposal, ?85 plus percent are mandates,? said Collins.

The budget includes a 3.6% property tax increase. It now goes to the county legislature. But ,Collins isn't expecting it to breeze through.

"There will be contentious debate, there's no doubt," said Collins. "I removed all the legislators? pork. They all slipped it in it here there and everywhere, several million dollars of pork."

Two examples Collins gave, $24-thousand dollars for wild cats in Buffalo and $40-thousand for the Hamburg Historical Society.

"We weren't giving any money to any town historical society," said Collins.

In the end, legislators still have to vote on the county executive's plan to raise property taxes. The three republican legislators told 2 On Your Side they'll vote against it.

As for the democrats, everyone we talked to wants to see the budget for themselves before making a decision.

If the legislature doesn't come to an agreement by the end of the year, Collins' budget will automatically take effect. 2 On Your Side will talk to all the legislators this week to get their take on the budget after they review it.