Legal brawls that erupted over Erie County’s contentious budget process in 2005 cost the county more than $616,000 in attorneys’ fees, according to a new audit.

County Comptroller Mark C. Poloncarz said County Executive Joel A. Giambra’s administration spent more than $448,000 to defend the county in lawsuits related to the 2005 spending plan. Another $168,178 was spent to pay law firms hired by the county comptroller, sheriff, clerk and district attorney in their budget lawsuits against the administration.

The county also spent more than $45,000 in legal fees to defend itself in a scandal involving operations at the county’s highway facilities in Aurora. Another $8,430 went for legal services in connection with a flap involving Buffalo Office Interiors, a company that overcharged the county for office furniture.

Poloncarz said auditors found no serious problems relating to the operation of the Law Department’s Risk Retention Fund and professional services accounts. But he said because such expenditures are not subject to Legislature review, he thought it was important to audit the fund.

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