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Erie County Government Patch Job needed to get Road Work Done

Joyce Kryszak

BUFFALO, NY (2007-07-16) Lawmakers say that Erie County is crumbling while officials squabble and money continues to be wasted.

Last week, comptroller Mark Polonacarz shot off a round that set up the latest firestorm. Poloncarz blamed the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority for not reigning in ten million dollars of waste in jail operations.

Poloncarz said the money is desperately needed in a number of places. And he said the neglect is shamefully evident in places such as Chestnut Ridge Park, where the casino roof is falling in.

The park is in the district of Orchard Park lawmaker John Mills. He described the park and Emory Park both as being "a mess."

But Mills said he is even more disturbed by the serious neglect of roads in his district and around the county. He points to Zoar Valley and Foster roads, two places Mills said public safety is at risk.

But there is no money earmarked to fix either road - or many others badly in need of repair.

According to officials, the roughly $33 million of proposed capital borrowing approved by the legislature includes only about nine million for infrastructure repairs.

Mills said road work and park maintenance are about ten years behind. And he estimates that will cost about $30 million to restore them when they crumble.

And there is a chance that even the projects that are slated for this year might not get done.

The borrowing must also be approved by the control board. Members have promised to cap borrowing at $30 million. And they have indicated that they would reject any package if they think they can do the borrowing at a cheaper rate.

But the legislature would have to request the control board borrow the money on the county's behalf. So far, lawamkers have declined that option on other borrowing.

Comptroller Poloncarz said, in the end, it is more of the same. he said residents are paying more and getting less.

Meanwhile, the county, so far, has lost roughly $450,000 from a tax lien sale the Control Board rejected in April.

Lawmakers said that money would fill a lot of pot holes.

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