Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Erie County has a surplus, but there's a question over how that money should be spent.
County Comptroller Kevin Hardwick says he'd like the money split evenly in thirds, for the county's three cities, another for roadwork, and the rest toward the rainy day fund. County Executive Mark Poloncarz says the surplus needs to go toward paying lawsuit settlements.
"I think it's interesting to hear that the controller and county executive are debating what happens with the surplus when it's actually up to the county legislature to take a vote on what happens with that surplus," says Legislator Lindsay Lorigo. She says she wants to see the maximum value go back to taxpayers. "We heard in Mark's State of the County, that he wants to use it to give out free light bulbs. I don't think that's acceptable. I heard the comptroller say he wants to give it back to cities. I don't think that's acceptable either. None of this money should be used to bail out the city of Buffalo. I do think we should use it in ways that taxpayers can be benefited, whether that's more road work,, some sort of program that residents would have an opportunity, like the storefront revitalization program that we did in the past that was highly successful," suggests Lorigo.
Lorigo says a direct refund to residents is impractical, saying it would amount to a quarter of a penny to everyone. "It's about $20 million when you think about dividing that among our population, you're not going to get a big check in the mail," says Lorigo.
Legislator John Bargnesi agrees with Lorigo on not giving direct refunds to taxpayers. "After responsibilities are met, like paying a lawsuit, I think the way you give money back is by doing projects that they need, like overlays, like road repairs, like infrastructure, like building repairs and making sure the money gets spent properly with throughout the county," explains Bargnesi.
Bargnesi also agreed with Poloncarz. "I think that's a good use of the money. We're talking about $29 million going for a legal settlement for the lawsuit. If we do not use it for that, we just have to bond that. And I don't know why we would pay interest on it when we have it in the surplus," he says.
The exact amount of the surplus has not been determined.
