Comptrollerâs report finds Erie County spent nearly $6 million on COVID-related overtime & expenses
Erie County
and last updated 2021-01-29 12:50:10-05
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) â Erie County government spent nearly $6 million in federal COVID-19 funds on overtime pay and expenses, according to a final report released Friday morning by Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw.
According to the report, from March 1, 2020 to the pay period ending on January 1, 2021, the county charged 114,524 hours to overtime and holiday pay at a cost of $5,898,195 using CARES Act funding.
Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein, a politically appointed salaried employee, received the highest amount of overtime pay at $183,000, according to the report. When you factor in her annual salary of $202,000, Burstein was paid $385,000 by the county in 2020.
Cuomo says the state is ready to reduce some COVID-19 restrictions
COVID-19 numbers indicate that the holiday spike is over. In his briefing at Roswell Park on Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo said the state can start reducing restrictions.
and last updated 2021-01-26 20:56:11-05
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) â COVID-19 numbers indicate that the holiday spike is over. In his briefing at Roswell Park on Monday, Governor Andrew Cuomo said the state can start reducing restrictions. We re at a new place now, Cuomo said.
Cuomo said to expect an announcement Wednesday about positive adjustments.
He didn t specify the changes, but said the state is looking at reducing restrictions and reducing cluster zones. The governor didn t say if those looser restrictions would include rolling back or eliminating the 10 p.m. closing time for bars and restaurants. He did say the announcement will focus on the whole state, not one specific region.
As New York State tries to keep up with demand of COVID-19 vaccine, more supply is on the way, but it will still be extremely limited. And according to some local officials, vaccinations have dropped dramatically. In looking at the numbers not only from Erie County, but also Niagara County, COVID vaccinations have been dropping the past couple of weeks, while supply to the state from the federal government has remained the same. Gov. Andrew.