BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - With the worst of the COVID-19 seemingly in the rear view mirror, Erie County on Monday took a major step forward by announcing a more than $123 million spending plan which officials hope will "renew" the community.
The spending plan, called "Reinvest in Erie's Neighborhoods and Employ our Workforce, or RENEW, will emphasize capital projects, a restoration of some jobs cut during the pandemic, and the creation of new county-jobs.
Most of the money for the plan, $89 million, comes from the federal government's American Rescue Plan. The remaining $34 million comes from a county surplus that was available because of a planned 20% budget cut from the state's budget that never came to fruition.
"This is a reinvestment of the assistance that we received from the federal government and we're going to put people to work," Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. "Hundreds of people to work."
287 county jobs were cut last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of those county jobs, 107 will be restored. Erie County will also create 35 new jobs in its parks department, Emergency Medical Services, district attorney's office, and the creation of a new Office for Health Equity.
"We've seen, unfortunately for some time now, and it was really brought out by the COVID-19 in the community, health disparities across Erie County," Poloncarz said. "We need to address those. Everyone should have access to good health care. Everyone should have good information about health care."
County employees who earned less than $116,400 will be eligible for a pay-bonus of $5 per hour for every hour they worked onsite from March 16, 2020 to June 26, 2020.
Millions of dollars will be invested into roads, the creation of a new highway barn in Cheektowaga, a new convention center facade, and upgrades to other county buildings, including $5 million for the Botanical Gardens.
Erie County will also spend more than $14 million for its parks system. Poloncarz said this is the largest investment in the parks since the 1930's. Erie County Sewer Districts would receive more than $31 million under the plan.
The Erie County Legislature will hold committee meetings on the spending plan. Lawmakers must approve the spending before it takes effect.
Poloncarz said another $89 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan will come next May. One of his plans is to use that funding for his long-sought ErieNet project which would create an internet infrastructure in rural parts of Erie County.
