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County Audit Critical of Employee Cell Phone Use

By Mark Scott

Buffalo, NY – An audit finds that there is widespread waste and abuse in the use of Erie County cell phones and portable electronic devices.

County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz says the audit shows a number of problems associated with cell phone usage.

"We're seeing excessive usage. We're seeing people purchasing equipment and charging it to county accounts. We don't know if it's being used for county purposes or personal purposes," Poloncarz said. "We see many personal phone calls, including long distance phone calls that are being charged to the county. We see people downloading ring tones and games to their cell phones and wireless devices."

Poloncarz said the audit was released this morning after a member of the Giambra administration improperly released a copy of a confidential draft to the media. He said that's a violation of county law.