ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. (WKTV) - An initiative to sell old items from the county online has hit the $1 million mark in e-Bay sales, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said.

“I am very pleased to be able to announce that our Purchasing Department has reached this remarkable milestone with their e-Bay program,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “I want to thank Mello Testa and his staff for all of their hard work and dedication to making this program a success.”

The program began in June 2004, with the County Purchasing Department selling old items from the County, along with items confiscated through the District Attorney’s Office.

These items would normally be sold at public auction twice a year, but in an effort to lighten the need to store these items, they are sold and shipped shortly after becoming available.

“Our e-Bay program was generating great numbers, but it really took off after County Executive Picente reached out to surrounding communities, agencies and authorities to participate in the program,” Testa said.

Various organizations from throughout the county have participated in the program, including:

*Parkway Senior Center
*United Cerebral Palsy
*Solid Waste Authority
*Rome City School District.

The agencies sell the equipment as soon as it is allowed by law and, the County says they have been getting back almost what they paid for it.

Testa added, “By partnering with us they are able to sell under our name, (oneidacounty-surplus), which has a platinum rating and over 1,300 Positive Feedbacks. Reputation is everything on e-Bay and Oneida County has built up an excellent one.”

It would take these organizations quite a while to build up that kind of rating. Oneida County receives 20% of the selling price of the item and they are able to sell the item significantly faster than if they were to sell it on their own.

All of the e-Bay related sales that have occurred since June 2004 have allowed the Purchasing Department to completely fund their $350,000 annual budget.

The department did not need to hire any new staff; instead, the current employees took on the extra responsibilities that came with the program.

“This is an excellent example of how the dedication of five employees can make such a difference and bring in enough money to entirely support their department,” said Picente. “I want to thank the Purchasing Department for taking on the extra work to make this program a success.”

All of the online auctions begin every Friday evening at 6 p.m. and run 10 days to end the following Monday at 6 p.m.

County employees are allowed to participate in the auctions with the only exception being the Purchasing Director, Mello Testa.