BUFFALO (wned) - Erie County's fiscal situation is improving courtesy of higher sales tax revenues toward the end of 2009.

According to County Comptroller Mark Poloncarz, the county numbers dropped a little over 3 percent, better that an anticipated 5 percent decrease, leaving the treasury $10 million ahead of expectations.

"We did see a reduction in sales tax, but nowhere near like other parts of the state," Poloncarz explained.

Though Western New York has suffered increased unemployment, Poloncarz said "we have not seen the precipitous job loss, the tanking of the housing market" experienced in other regions.

A new report from State Comptroller Thomas DiNapol shows come counties with sales tax revenues dropping by 10 percent or more.

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