Award is highest professional recognition in governmental budgeting
Sarasota County recently earned the national Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), the county has announced.
The award, which is the highest professional recognition in governmental budgeting, was presented to the Office of Financial Management (OFM) staff during the July 11 County Commission meeting, a news release notes.
“Sarasota County’s budgeting process serves as the foundation of fiscal responsibility and innovation,” said County Administrator Jonathan Lewis in the release. “To be recognized for the County Commission and staff’s ongoing development of a successful financial plan that meets these high standards is an honor. The OFM team continues to exceed their ongoing commitment to improvement and I am proud of their achievement,” he added in the release.
“National recognition is based on how well a budget serves as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and a communication device,” the release explains. With more than 1,600 applications submitted to the Budget Awards Program, each is rated on the basis of 27 specific criteria, the release notes.
“Our budget process allows for success in providing exceptional financial leadership and the evolution of a budget document that is continually recognized by the GFOA,” said OFM Director Kim Radtke in the release. “It’s an honor to work with a passionate team of professionals that are dedicated to providing the highest level of service to the community.”
The GFOA serves more than 19,000 government finance professionals throughout North America, the release points out. “The GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting,” the release adds.