BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced his 2020 COVID-19 Budget Deficit Remediation Plan on Thursday. According to details released by his office, the plan identifies, "budgetary gap-closing measures to address a projected $137.8 million pandemic-related deficit in the county’s FY2020 budget."
“Putting this plan together required input from county Commissioners and Department Heads as well as from elected officials and other offices. It was not easy but I would like to thank all who participated and offered constructive ideas to help move the county forward through these unprecedented times,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “These gap-closing measures are a mix of things that we can do at the county level, including using some fund balance, making departmental cuts, and closing out some projects. However, federal funding like the CARES Act is also a key component to addressing this issue. Erie County, like counties nationwide, needs another round of federal stimulus to help our economic recovery and I urge the President to work with House and Senate leadership to pass another package. If they do so we can avoid the many proposed cuts to services and staff.”
Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw issued the following statement in response to the County Executive's plan, "I appreciate and thank the County Executive for his kind words about working together. We are both on the same page. Now is not the time for partisan bickering. Together, we need to lead our county out of this fiscal crisis caused by the deficit."
Mr. Poloncarz's gap closing measures identified in the plan includes:
· 2019 Carry Forward: $29 million
· Fund Balance Usage: $25.15 million
· Capital Project Close-Out: $4.6 million
· Fringe Savings: $8 million
· Unanticipated Healthcare Savings and Rebates: $16 million
· CARES Act Cost Shifts: $15 million
· Departmental Cuts: $40 million
For more information on the county's COVID-19 remediation plan, click here.
