Although the “underfunded amount” is fluid, this amount was estimated on Nov. 21 going into the 2 P.M. Erie County Council Caucus prior to the final budget vote. The exact amount of funds is yet to be determined.

Davis’ budget was presented on October 1 to county council and available on-line for the public. It was riddled with errors, inaccuracies and is a downright conundrum for anyone’s comprehension, including veteran accountants with 40-year familiarity with previously balanced Erie County budgets: JES Presentation.

Citizens feel a keen sense of abuse and horror that since Davis has been at the helm, Erie County budgets have not added up. Top heavy administration expenses, back door salary increases and defiant, uncooperative management has led to marathon inquiry for information Davis has held in contempt of transparency.

As citizens, we must demand independent 3rd party audits of Erie County budgets for transparency and a realistic assessment of how our tax dollars have been budgeted and spent.

“A lack of transparency results in distrust and a deep sense of insecurity.”

~Dalai Lama

“Wait! What? Me? I’m not an employer!” you may be saying. But as a taxpayer and citizen you are. There has been a lot said lately that if you don’t like the job an elected official is doing, then vote them out. Voting is extremely important—and I hope you exercise your franchise on Tuesday–that’s not enough, however. A lot of damage can be done in four years. Think about the amount of damage a toddler can do in four years—and yes, that’s a very deliberate comparison—let alone someone that has access to millions of dollars in funds and assets. If the country executive is not leveraging taxpayer assets—such as farmland or a library—in a way that is beneficial to taxpayers and citizens, then taxpayers need to give feedback—just as a good employer would. That’s why it’s so important to stay engaged.
The county executive is calling the Human Relations Commission a duplication of effort and telling citizens that they need to travel to Pittsburgh or Harrisburg to get assistance. What if they don’t have transportation? What if they aren’t familiar with Pittsburgh driving? It’s not for the faint of heart. The irony here is that Gannon officials argued at their “public input sessions” that Blasco Library was a better location for Project NepTWNE than the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) because it was too hard to get transportation to TREC, but TREC is still in the same city and not 2-4 hours away. Why the concern for convenience for a so-called tourist attraction, but not for basic services?
The 2025 budget is so far out of wack that the county executive is simply taking millions of dollars from the reserve fund. That’s the rainy day fund. If it looks like rain, it’s only because he’s seeding the clouds. This is so that he can blame council if a tax hike or cuts are needed.
He is eliminating 74 positions with the excuse that these positions aren’t filled. Why aren’t they filled? Why is there such turnover in his administration?
Elected officials serve at the pleasure of the taxpayers. Yes, vote, but in the meantime, between elections, let officials know your opinions and if necessary, take legal action if there are no other remedies, such as the KOLP lawsuit. Be a responsible employer. Protect county funds and assets, and make sure they work for the taxpayers, not the county executive.

“With great power comes great responsibility.”

~Uncle Ben, Spiderman