The Cash for Clunkers program improved Erie County’s sales tax revenue.

Comptroller Mark C. Poloncarz said the federal program designed to stimulate the sales of new autos generated $2 million in tax money for the county and local governments during July, August and September. County government keeps the largest share of that amount, $1.2 million.

Overall, sales tax revenue still declined from the same period in 2008, but the rate of decline would have been about twice as steep, or 3.5 percent, the comptroller’s office said.

So far this year, the sales tax decline from 2008 has averaged 4 percent in Erie County, still better than other large counties, including Nassau, Westchester, Suffolk, Monroe, Onondaga and Albany, Poloncarz said.

Copyright 2009, The Buffalo News