WGRZ NBC-2

County May Have Surplus

Erie County Executive, Joel Giambra now claims the county finished 2005 with a $10 - $15 Million surplus. He made the announcement on Thursday, during a press conference at the Rath Building.

"I can tell you on a preliminary basis that we're very pleased with the results of operations for 2005" said Giambra.

The County Executive credits reduced spending and limited hiring as reasons behind the surplus. Others believe the increased sales tax and reduced medicaid costs are behind the savings.

Thursday afternoon, Two on Your side took Giambra's numbers to the Erie County Comptroller, Mark Poloncarz, to see if he was on the same page.

"I don't know where he's getting the basis for his figures other than some of the initial reports show we are doing better than was originally projected" said Poloncarz.

The county comptroller believes Erie County will end up with a surplus, but he won't know the amount until a county audit is complete later in the year.

Despite the good news about 2005, Erie County still faces a $52 Million shortfall for 2007.

Copyright WGRZ-TV, 2006