Posted December 10, 2004.

Buffalo Library Closures Averted

One hour before midnight on December 8, the Erie County (N.Y.) legislature narrowly approved by 8–7 a revised 2005 budget after agreeing to hike the sales tax by one cent and letting Buffalo and other towns share in the revenue. The agreement saves the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library from a devastating budget cut that would have forced it to close all its branches.

County Executive Joel Giambra said that $12.5 million raised from the new 9.25% sales tax, which is expected to generate $109 million in 2005, would go to the city of Buffalo and other towns and villages in the county, the Buffalo News reported December 9.

Much of Erie County’s $130-million deficit has been blamed on rising Medicaid costs and, like other county executives in New York, Giambra has repeatedly called on the state to take over its Medicaid expenses.

“This budget crisis has been a hard lesson for our community,” Giambra told the News. “There is no free ride. There is no easy vote. . . . We have made tough choices and made deep cuts, but we have preserved priorities.”

Posted December 10, 2004.