Preliminary $4.2 Million Positive Variance will be reviewed by Independent Auditor

ERIE COUNTY, NY— Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz announced that Erie County anticipates ending 2012 with a positive budget variance of $4.2 million. The county’s preliminary and unaudited 2012 financial statements will be reviewed beginning Monday, April 15 by independent auditors Drescher & Malecki, LLP.

“This modest budget surplus is the result of difficult decisions and careful stewardship of taxpayer dollars,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “While the final closeout of 2012 is subject to the independent Auditing Firm’s review, the potential surplus is encouraging to see, especially considering the County did not receive any Federal Stimulus assistance to plug holes in the budget, unlike in 2009, 2010 and 2011 when the County received more than $100 million combined in Stimulus assistance.”

The anticipated surplus could add approximately $4.2 million at year end 2012 to the County’s unassigned General Fund balance, bringing that balance to $87.7 million.