Erie County’s control board has the benefit of a sympathetic public. Whether he deserved it or not, County Executive Joel Giambra was crucified by the media during the 2005 fiscal crisis, and the ensuing creation of the board as the administration’s personal baby-sitter made it look and feel like a savior.

But along with the board’s unusual position —which includes boundless discretion over the county’s finances and apparently having to answer to nobody — has come natural criticism that the board is a mere political indulgence, and far from the best thing for the fiscal stability of the county, as its official name suggests.

Giambra has said as much, as would the majority of the department heads he appointed. Some legislators would say so (and have).

Now, in the depths of a highly critical letter sent to control board Chairman Anthony Baynes, county Comptroller Mark Poloncarz echoed a similar sentiment.

Recently, there has been public, political sniping between the board and county administration, Poloncarz wrote, “Instead of frank discussion on the issues in a professional manner, the latest ‘sound bites’ call into the question the motives of the speakers and the unbiased nature of the (control board).”

Just another officials’ hat tossed into an already full ring, right? Maybe, but when so many voices become a chorus, it may be time for taxpayers to start worrying. After all, these are people making decisions with your money, and you have no control over what they do.

Report

The comptroller’s letter wasn’t all bad, as Poloncarz sounded a familiar control board lament, “the administration’s failure to engage in more re-engineering and cost containment — including reducing long-term capital borrowing.”

But in the end, he said the budget is balanced and that by entering a control period, the board essentially acted out of turn. Poloncarz also disagreed with board predictions that items in the 2007 budget would not meet expected revenues. He said he has “significant problems” with the board speculating it will completely take over the county’s finances.

Statements

• Erie County Republican Committee Chairman James Domalgaski, on the decision of George Holt, D-Buffalo, to stay in office after he pleaded guilty for not paying roughly $25,000 in sales tax revenues from his Buffalo restaurant:

  “This stance by Mr. Holt is a reflection of the fact that too many elected leaders feel they are entrenched, safe, and invincible. Those characteristics do not represent the best of public leadership and do nothing to help move this community forward in a positive, productive way.”

• Lynn Marinelli, D-Town of Tonawanda, on the county’s Legislature reaching an agreement with the county worker union AFSCME Local 1095 reducing the number of people in county snowplows from two to one.:

  “The cooperation and effort to make the operations of the county highway division and other county services more efficient while remaining safe and accomplishing the necessary work is a part of the county Legislature’s efforts to reform the way business is conducted.”