HTN: County Control Board Goes Soft

The Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority has gone from "hard" to "soft". The County control board has scaled back it powers to soft advisory status now that county finances are in a better position. The past four years the control board had strict oversight of the county's books. The board gave the thumbs-up to a four-year financial plan presented by Erie ounty Executive Chris Collins, meaning the control board will no longer need to approve major financial decisions by the county. Collins hopes the change will boost the county's economy. In 2004 the county was plagued with a nearly eleven-million dollar deficit. Since then, it has turned into a 46-million dollar surplus. Control board members stress that budget gaps are still looming in the near future.