A county comptroller's report later said that the work should have been opened to competition.

Already a number of Assembly members, a county comptroller and others have expressed interest in the post.

The Republicans argue that the county comptroller's office already performs such a task.

The Democrats, clearly angry, sent the county comptroller a new calculator.

The county comptroller must then ensure "that everything is up to snuff," he said.

But after an audit of the museum's books, the county comptroller said yesterday, "It looks to me like the sky is falling in 2007."

The county comptroller released an audit critical of the county executive.

Elsewhere they have won other top offices like district attorney, county comptroller or control of the county legislature.

According to the county comptroller's office, the county's administrative budget was $2.9 million in 1994 and rose to $4.9 million in 1997.

Under this plan, Mr. Peterson would move from the town council to become county comptroller.