Erie County Comptroller Mark C. Poloncarz today announced that the County of Erie has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada ("GFOA"). The County received the award for its 2007 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report ("CAFR").

"Erie County's 2007 CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel of government finance professionals to meet the high standards of the GFOA," Poloncarz said. He also noted, "GFOA's criteria for this certificate includes demonstration by the award recipient of a constructive 'spirit of full disclosure' to demonstrate its financial status. I will continue to operate my office in a transparent and open manner and to fully communicate to the taxpayers the state of Erie County's fiscal health."

Working with the County's independent outside auditor, the 2007 CAFR was completed by the Office of the Comptroller in 2008. The CAFR is the County's annual financial audit. This is the third year in a row that Erie County has received GFOA's Certificate for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

"This is the GFOA's highest form of recognition for excellence in the areas of governmental accounting and financial reporting. I am proud that GFOA recognized the outstanding work that my staff performed, and I would like to particularly thank James Dziekan, Robert Keating and Paul Stachnik of our office," Poloncarz concluded.

A copy of the 2007 CAFR is available on the Comptroller's web site at http://www.erie.gov/comptroller/pdfs/cafr2007.pdf.