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BUFFALO NEWS County budget $9 million ahead for quarter By MATTHEW SPINA News Staff Reporter 5/2/2006 Erie County government, its batteries recharging with the juice from this year's tax increases, finished the first three months of 2006 about $9 million better than budgeted, the Giambra administration says in a report to the Legislature. The government kept nearly 300 jobs vacant, saving more than $5 million on personnel, County Executive Joel A. Giambra says. Officials spent less on other items, and total income from sales and property taxes, plus federal and state reimbursements, was essentially on target. Though the government, which spends $1.1 billion a year, has a glimmer of a year-end surplus, budget officials are not suggesting restoring money for shrunken programs or padding the parks budget to reopen Wendt Beach this summer. Budget Director Kenneth J. Vetter said a surprise upsurge in social services spending can wipe out any first-quarter gains. Had Giambra and the Legislature not raised the property tax levy by 20 percent and brought the sales tax from 8.25 to 8.75 percent this year, they would face a deficit of about $100 million. They still must achieve about $50 million in savings to further rebuild reserves and avoid a tax increase for 2007. Like Vetter, County Comptroller Mark C. Poloncarz agrees that it is too early to talk about a year-end surplus. "There is always the risk that a contingency could arise, such as reduced sales tax revenues, reduced federal or state reimbursements, or sudden increases in county costs, such as for gasoline," Poloncarz said in a statement. The county buys its gasoline through a consortium and right now pays $2.32 a gallon, Vetter said. The Legislature plans midyear budget hearings, a rare series of interviews with commissioners and other leaders to assess how their departments are faring and to avoid year-end surprises. The budget-monitoring report Giambra announced Monday will contribute to that midyear snapshot. The Sheriff's Department's jail division typically exceeds its overtime budget, and did so by $63,000 in the first three months of 2006. More jail deputies have been hired, and officials hope that the overtime budget's pockets will be deep enough for the rest of the year, given the Buffalo police crackdown on quality-of-life crimes. The Erie County Holding Center is averaging 100 inmates a night more than at this time last year, Giambra's report says. With interest rates increasing and more money on hand to invest - 2005 ended with a $10 million surplus after a tax increase and one-shot revenues - the county earned $534,000 more than budgeted in interest income in the first three months. The county might need up to $2 million by year's end to pay for two special State Legislature elections and meet demands of the federal Help America Vote Act. e-mail: mspina@buffnews.com Copyright 2006 - The Buffalo News |
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