BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz released his proposed 2020 budget Tuesday.
The proposed budget touts a property tax cut, and investing more than $60 million in roads and bridges.
Some of the highlights include $81 million in capital project work including $44 million in roads and bridges. $2.5 million to purchase new plow trucks and tractors, and nearly $3 million for parks and recreation among other things.
Poloncarz says the property tax rate will be reduced to 2.48%, which decreases 12 cents per ever thousand dollars of assessed value.
Poloncarz was also asked about the timing of this budget, in an election year going up against republican opponent Lynn Dixon.
"She's it sound like I did this for some election year ploy, which is ridiculous," he said. "It has to be released basically three weeks before the election anyway. We're just done with it."
"Again, it's an election year. It's the earliest I remember him ever releasing it," Dixon said. "We've seen a lot of road work suddenly being done in an election year and whether or not the budget reflects that, we shall see."
Poloncarz also says the budget underscores his administration's efforts to reduce outstanding debt in the county, which he says has decreased under his administration.
You can view the full budget by clicking here.
