Downsizing debate catches fire in WNY

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB) - The downsizing debate has been catching fire in western New York. Will more local governments take a hard look at themselves?

There are about a dozen village governments across Erie County that operate within towns that have their own elected leaders.

Do taxpayers really need both layers of leadership?

They're voting more people into office in the Village of Williamsville, a five member board that represents around six thousand people in one square mile of the village.

At the same time in Niagara County, politicians voted unanimously on reducing the size of the legislature.

It'll be up to the voters in November to decide whether or not they'd like to trim the body from 19 to 15 members.

Legislator Paul Wojtaszek said, "It's time and it's the right thing to do, to rightsize the legislature."

In the 1980s, the legislature went from 31 to 19, but as the population declines, legislators believe it's time to reflect those fading numbers.

Legislator Richard Updegrove said, "What we're trying to do is to balance the number of elected officials with our desire to maintain a part time elected body."

What would happen then, is that the districts would be re-drawn and each legislator would add a few thousand households to their coverage area.

Wojtaszek said, "It doesn't overwhelm them with more territory to cover."

Legislator Dennis Virtuoso said, "I would like to see a study done first."

Virtuoso says the decision needs more thought. He says he's in favor of downsizing, but the census won't be complete until next year and he wants to see what the numbers are before making a move.

Virtuoso said, "I would like to see less than 15, this call for 15, I think it should be 9 or 11, let's really do it right."

But in Williamsville, more elected officials will take the oath. Could the downsizing debate swing through?

John Militello said, "They don't cost that much."

But even a former mayor thinks it's something to consider.

Williamsville voter Larry Brenton said, "I'd be in favor of evaluating that."

Some of the legislators say it's not necessarily the money, since the savings are not significant, but it seems to be the trend lately, and what many voters seem to want.

A public hearing is set for July 28th.