More than $450,000 saved by not filling positions throughout the year and doing more with less
(Buffalo) – The Office of Erie County Comptroller will save $476,058 in the department’s 2013 budget when five lower level patronage positions were eliminated and replaced later in the year with four professional accountants. The significant vacancy savings is being reported by the Comptroller’s Office to the Office of Budget and Management.
The $476,058 reduction of the Office of Erie County Comptroller’s overall 2013 budget of $3,479,344 represents a voluntary cut of almost 14%. A majority of the savings comes from not filling vacant positions right away.
“Times are tough. The economy is not rebounding. Families we serve are stretching their dollars at home. Erie County government should do the same. I asked my hard working employees to do more with less. Their workloads increased. The Office of Comptroller sets the bar high for all of county government. If we can stretch our dollars and complete work with less employees, other departments should do the same,” said Erie County Comptroller Stefan I. Mychajliw.
The Poloncarz administration recently reported vacancy savings for all of county government for the first five months of 2013 to be a total of $1,987,755. The administration’s analysis reported $958,858 in salary savings and $1,028,897 in fringe benefits savings.
As for estimated vacancy savings in the Office of Erie County Comptroller for the 2013 budget, $200,495 was represented salary savings and $250,268 represented fringe benefits savings.
“We hope other county departments cut back on salaries and filling positions. This will help offset any proposed property tax increases for the 2014 budget. The absolute last thing the administration should do is punish already overburdened homeowners with a property tax increase. The administration should eliminate as many vacant positions as possible before even thinking of raising taxes,” added Comptroller Mychajliw.
The Office of Budget and Management set a deadline for Monday, August 5th, 2013 for all county departments to send them reports on their respective 2013 budgets.
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