By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – There appears to be a stalemate over the four-year fiscal plan for Erie County. The plan was rejected in January by the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority. But the control board and the Giambra Administration disagree over who has the next move.
Last week, the administration announced there are surplus for 2006 and the 2007 budget is sound and balanced. But that does not jive with the analysis of the hard control board. They have declared the budget and the entire four-year plan out of balance.
Ken Vetter is Executive Director for the control board. He said a major factor will be the success or failure of the county's planned tax lien sale that would bring in $40 million. But, even if it goes through, Vetter said that does not fix everything.
And without the tax lien sale, Vetter said the administration would have to come up with a revised four-year plan for this year. Erie County Budget Director James Hartman disagrees.
Hartman believes the Control Board is afraid of losing public support if it enacts spending limits and other harsh measures. But Vetter said it is not the board's job to take over the duties of elected officials.
Meanwhile, Vetter said they are waiting for the county to produce the contract for the tax lien sale that will need the control board's approval.
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