By Chris Jamele
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-939748.mp3
Buffalo, NY – The battle over funding for the area's cultural institutions in the proposed county budget for 2011 appears to be turning in favor of County Executive Chris Collins.
Collins has faced harsh criticism from many fronts for his cuts in funding to the library system and to numerous local culturals. In a recent compromise, Collins has accepted a proposal from the Legislature's Republicans to restore three million dollars to the library system. He continues to defend his intent to cut monies for the smaller cultural organizations, funding only what he defines at the significant ten.
Local cultural leaders argue that the financial hit the region will experience because of their loss of funding will be larger than Collins predicts.
The County Legislature's Republican Caucus is planning to make what is billed as a major announcement at a press conference later this morning.