The Erie County Legislature has approved a plan to close a nearly $138 million deficit in the current year's county budget.
The vote was unanimous. Lawmakers met Thursday in person inside legislature chambers for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.
The economic shutdown caused by the virus has resulted in a massive loss of sales tax and other revenues.
The cuts, originally proposed by County Executive Mark Poloncarz, would close the gap by tapping unrestricted county savings and through job eliminations and layoffs. In addition, most county jail inmates at the downtown holding center will be moved to the correctional facility in Alden, saving an estimated $10 million.
