The Capital Projects Committee is specifically governed by Article 25 - Financial Procedures; Section 2504 - Preparation of Proposed Tentative Capital Budget Program of the Erie County Charter.
Capital Projects Committee
To assist in the consideration of capital projects and the capital program, there shall be a Capital Projects Committee consisting of the County Executive, the Comptroller, the Budget Director, the Commissioner of the Department of Environment and Planning, the County Attorney and such other administrative heads as the County Executive may designate, and the following members of the County Legislature; the chair, the chair of the Finance and Management Committee, and the majority and minority leaders. The County Executive shall be solely responsible for the capital program and budget as submitted to the County Legislature and no members of the latter body shall be obliged to support any project by reason of membership on the Capital Projects Committee. The County Executive shall be the chair and the Budget Director shall be the vice chair of this committee.
Capital Projects Process
Submission of Capital Project Requests
On or before the fifteenth day of July, or such earlier date as the Budget Director may prescribe, the head of each administrative unit, including independently elected officials, shall furnish to the Budget Director and to the Commissioner of Environment a Planning a description, justification and estimate for each physical public improvement of works, hereinafter called capital project, which is proposed for development during one or more of the ensuing six fiscal years. Each capital project request shall show: recommended priority; development; time schedule; estimated costs for planning, site of right of way, construction, equipment and other features; status of plans and land acquisition; anticipated effect of project on annual operating budget; possible sources of financial aid; recommended expenditures by years; and such other information as the Budget Director and Commissioner of Environment and Planning may deem advisable.
- Upon receiving a capital project request, the Commissioner of Environment and Planning shall study the same with special references to comprehensive plans for the County and for any affected municipality therein.
The Commissioner of Environment and Planning shall promptly forward any such comments and recommendations regarding the proposed project to the Budget Director who shall submit the same, together with his or her own comments and recommendations to the Capital Projects Committee and the development coordination board. The Capital Projects Committee shall proceed to consider all requested capital projects, and for such purpose shall meet in the period between April fifteen and August fifteen at least twice, and as more often as may be required at the call of the chairman or vice chairman. - The Development Coordination Board shall make such recommendations to the County Executive in regard to the scope of the capital program, the relative priorities of proposed projects and suggested means of financing as its membership may determine. At the request of the County Executive, joint meetings of the Capital Projects Committee and the Development Coordination Board shall be held.
- The Budget Director and Deputy Commissioner of Environment and Planning shall assist the Development Coordination Board by presenting and explaining all capital project requests and shall furnish all relevant exhibits and information. The Department of Environment and Planning shall also assist in the preparation of the capital improvement program report and all related information.
Proposed Capital Program
On or before the fifteenth day of August, the Budget Director, after receiving the advice of the Capital Projects Committee, shall prepare and submit to the County Executive a proposed capital program for the next six fiscal years, showing the purpose and amount of recommended capital expenditures by years, the suggested methods of financing, and the estimated effect of such program on future budgets with respect to operating, maintenance, debt service and other costs.
Proposed Tentative Capital Budget
The first year of the proposed capital program, covering the next ensuing fiscal year, shall be incorporated by the Budget Director in a proposed tentative capital budget for such year. Such capital budget shall indicate debt service charges of previous projects, proposed down payments and other expenditures for new projects, and the recommended sources of all proposed capital financing including, but not limited to, capital reserve fund, sinking funds, current revenues, temporary borrowing, bond sales, federal and state grants, loans or advances. The proposed tentative capital budget shall not contain any capital debt for the purpose of paying salaries, utilities, supplies or other recurring operating expenses, unless authorized under New York State Law.