Democrats in the Erie County Legislature have rearranged nearly $5 million in the county executive’s proposed budget to keep the county health clinics operating, boost cultural spending by about $1 million and spread an additional $1.5 million among libraries, the community college, youth programs and Buffalo’s Olmsted parks.

The Democrats said their amendments, which they unveiled Wednesday and plan to approve next week, would not raise property taxes above the level set by County Executive Chris Collins— $5.03 for every $1,000 of assessed value. But the changes also fail to cut taxes, a goal set by some legislators.

Collins is not likely to accept all changes, but under the county’s rules he can veto only the Legislature’s spending increases, not its cuts. He and his staff said they will study the revisions over the weekend, and they defended the budget Collins proposed last month, especially its strategy to remove the county from providing primary health care, now offered at two county-run clinics.

“The county executive proposed a balanced, responsible and taxpayer- focused budget that kept the tax rate flat and continued to transfer nonmandated services to willing not-for-profit agencies in our community,” said Grant Loomis, Collins spokesman. “The county executive continues to believe that this approach is best for the clients of those services, the not-for-profit agencies and county taxpayers.”

The Democrats provided for the spending changes by, among other things, taking away the longevity raises Collins had budgeted for several department heads and lifting $700,000 from an account for highway supplies. They also figured Collins can save $2.8 million more than he had anticipated by keeping jobs vacant, a cue provided by the county’s state-appointed control board as a way to economize.

The Democrats then allotted that money to organizations looking for help. The Buffalo and Erie County Library System, for example, would receive $750,000 more than Collins had budgeted. The Olmsted Conservancy would be in line for another $360,000, while Erie Community College would get about $200,000 more.

Worried about state cuts in youth programs, the Democrats added $200,000 for Operation Prime Time summer youth activities and another $15,000 for assorted youth organizations around the county.

Further, lawmakers provided $100,000 for Buffalo’s People United for Sustainable Housing, to match the organization’s own money for demolishing, boarding or rehabilitating abandoned homes around the county.

“Our vacant properties problem has become so big that it can’t just be a footnote on some economic development strategy,” said Majority Leader Maria Whyte, D-Buffalo. “It needs its own attention.”

The Democrats also want to give $30,000 more than Collins proposed to the Soil, Water and Conservation District and $45,000 more to Cooperative Extension.

The Legislature’s major change involved the county-run health clinics. In his budget, Collins said he was transferring several clinical programs from the Jesse E. Nash Health Care Center at 608 William St. and the Dr. Matt Gajewski Center at 1500 Broadway to the Sheehan Health Network.

Though state grants and patient billings cover most of the clinics’ costs, Collins said he was looking for ways to get the government out of services that private outfits can provide. He also wants to lessen the county’s long-term health care costs for retirees, so he is willing to lay off a few dozen clinic employees before they can retire.

In response to the public backlash, legislators restored $2.2 million for clinical services. But even if Collins doesn’t veto the addition, will he spend the money? Chairwoman Lynn M. Marinelli, D-Town of Tonawanda, acknowledged the Legislature cannot force Collins to keep the clinics open. Nor can it force Collins to continue seeking the outside grants that have supported them.

In her remarks, Marinelli avoided saying that the Democrats are opening the clinics. She said they have “supplied the resources” that would let the government continue offering primary care.

The overall package was fashioned largely by Legislator Robert B. Reynolds, D-Hamburg, in private talks with Democrats. Reynolds said he wanted the package to draw the consistent support of 10 Democrats— the two-thirds majority that can override vetoes. But he said it has the support of eight lawmakers, a simple majority.

The Democrats, whose ranks will fall from 12 members to nine as of Jan. 1, are wrangling over next year’s leadership. Their divisions came into play in this year’s budget strategy, said Reynolds, who did not win re-election and has probably presided over his last meeting of the Finance, Management and Budget Committee.

Aside from the $2.2 million for the clinics, the Democrats’ increased cultural support the most. Collins’ $5 million outlay was increased to $6.2 million. Several organizations received increases. The African American Cultural Center’s grant doubled, to $132,411.

The Democrats’ plan also would fund some groups denied support by Collins because they were new applicants. They include the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, which would get $322,000.

The Democrats rearranged Sheriff’s Office spending to add seven posts — three narcotics detectives, three dispatchers and one warrant officer.

County government inhales and exhales about $1.4 billion a year, so $5 million represents a small percentage of the total budget. But $5 million is a larger percentage of the spending that the elected officials can control. So in Erie County, debates over $5 million can be hard-fought contests.

The sharpest cracks at Collins included the Democratic decision to deny longevity raises to several department heads. Similar moves have been attempted in past years to prod county executives to bargain.

The Legislature is scheduled to meet at 11 a. m. Tuesday to ratify the proposed amendments and send its version of the budget to Collins. He then has a week to veto or accept the actions. The Legislature is expected to meet Dec. 8 to decide whether to override any vetoes.