BUFFALO, N.Y. — Erie County Comptroller Kevin Hardwick says his annual budget review is taking a darker tone this year.

“I always refer to it as our doom and gloom letter,” Hardwick said. “Well, this year it was doomier and gloomier than most.”

In his annual budget outlook to the Erie County Legislature, Hardwick warns of a balanced, but tight, $2.28 billion spending plan proposed by County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

“It is a very tight budget,” he said. “Every budget, when it is proposed, is balanced and it remains balanced until it’s not.”

Hardwick highlights several long-term risks, including new programs with ongoing costs and personnel expenses that have grown by about $178 million over five years.

“The increase in spending year to year in this budget isn’t significantly greater

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