BUFFALO (2008-07-02) Erie County ended 2007 in the black. Comptroller Mark Poloncarz says an audit shows the county ended the year with a $9.3 million surplus.

Poloncarz says increased sales tax revenue, thanks in large part to an influx in Canadian shoppers, helped the county. He says the county is also exercising fiscal discipline.

"It is the third straight year that we ended up with not only a balanced budget but with a surplus and I think it's more evidence that Erie County is headed down the path toward fiscal stability," Poloncarz told WNED.

Poloncarz says the surplus would have been even higher if not for an unbudgeted payment of nearly $9-million to the Erie County Medical Center.

The surplus leaves the county with a so-called rainy day fund of more than $47-million.

Copyright 2008 - WNED