RICHARD H. JEFFREY

GFOA Awards for ACFR and PAFR 2023

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Erie County for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023. The report has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

The Government Finance Officers Association is also pleased to announce that Erie County has received GFOA’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR Award) for its Popular Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.

The Award represents a significant achievement by the entity. In order to be eligible for the PAFR Award, a government must also submit its annual comprehensive financial report to GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program and receive the Certificate for the current fiscal year. Each eligible report is reviewed by judges who evaluate the report based on the following categories: reader appeal, understandability, distribution methods, creativity and other elements.

The Erie County Auditor, Rick Jeffrey, along with his staff, compiles data annually from his office and from the accounting staff’s in all county departments that is audited and entered into the ACFR. This report is a thorough and detailed presentation of the county’s financial condition. The PAFR presents the county’s ACFR data, financial position, accomplishments and activities in an easy to read format for our citizens. Erie County is currently under audit for calendar year 2024.

These reports are available for review on the Auditor’s website at https://auditor.eriecounty.oh.gov/financial-reports.

2023 ACFR Certificate

2023 PAFR Award

AUDITOR OF STATE AWARD WITH DISTINCTION FOR 2023 AUDIT

October 7, 2024

Michelle Reeder, Finance Director City of Sandusky, along with Yvonne Anderson, CFO/Treasurer of Sandusky City Schools and Rick Jeffrey, Erie County Auditor, are pleased to announce that all three officials and accounting staffs were each individually awarded the Auditor of State Award with Distinction for Fiscal Year 2023 by the Auditor of State.

The award lists each official’s name and entity. It states: “This award is presented for excellence in financial reporting related to the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and compliance with applicable laws for the fiscal year ended 2023. Your exemplary reporting serves as the standard for clean, accountable government, representing the highest level of service to Ohioans.”

Eligible entities that receive this Award with Distinction for a “clean” audit report is very rare. For this to occur as it has for these officials is an amazing accomplishment as less than 5% of government entities receive this award. The Finance Director of the City of Sandusky, Treasurer of Sandusky City Schools and Auditor of Erie County, per Ohio Revised Code are the responsible parties for the yearly Financial Audits and Reports.

Auditor Jeffrey remarked “Each of us earning these awards in our neighboring government and school system is an honor. We collaborate well together and are all partners in financial excellence for our taxpayers. The entire City, School system and County should be very proud.”

Copies of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports are available at the Erie County Auditor’s website under the Financial tab and clicking Financial tab and clicking Financial Reports. Completed Audit reports are available at www.auditor.state.oh.us under the Audits area. Click here to see pictures.