WGRZ NBC-2

Poloncarz: BOE Needs Money

At a press conference on Friday, Poloncarz said no money was appropriated in the current county budget, to pay for the February 28th election.

Under new federal laws, the county must come up with the money needed, to hold the election.

"There's going to have to be additional funding because we cannot hold an election just because we don't have the funding," said Poloncarz. "It's going to be up to the legislature to make an appropriate appropriation so to speak, there is money in a contingency fund."

Poloncarz recently completed a year long audit of the Board of Elections. He claims the current staff of 36 employees is sufficient, as long as it’s supplemented on an as needed basis with part time and seasonal employees. Prior to the Erie County budget crisis, the Board of Elections had 62 full time employees.

Copyright WGRZ-TV, 2006