Office of Financial Management team recognized during Feb. 25 County Commission meeting
For the 35th consecutive year, Sarasota County Government has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), County Administrator Jonathan Lewis announced during the regular meeting of the County Commission on Feb. 25, in downtown Sarasota.
With the support of the commissioners, Lewis noted, he does have the opportunity, during the regular public meetings, “to recognize the excellence of our staff.”
This latest honor involves the county’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, he said.
More than 1,700 government bodies have been recognized this year “for their commitment to transparency in budgeting,” a county news release says: states, cities, counties, special districts and school districts.
To qualify, a county budget document “must meet transparency standards,” and “excel as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communication tool,” the GFOA notes.
In fact, Lewis said during the Feb. 25 meeting, the document enables members of the various county departments to find out “exactly where they have money to do certain things.”
“It’s a privilege to recognize the work of our team this year,” said Kim Radtke, director of the Sarasota County Office of Financial Management, in the county news release. “Alongside our team, we prioritize preparing outstanding financial planning and transparent reporting,” she added.
Each year, the Office of Financial Management presents the budget to the public through a series of meetings, inviting comments before the County Commission takes its final vote on the spending plan for the next fiscal year, the release continues.
During the Feb. 25 commission meeting, Lewis and the board members formally recognized not just Radtke but all of the other team members for their role in making this latest achievement possible, with the group gathered in front of the audience.
Lewis emphasized that this is “national recognition for 35 years in a row.” In fact, he added, “It’s the only national recognition for government budgeting and finance.”
Moreover, he pointed out, “The standards [for earning the distinction] have gone up every year. We wanted that to be clear.”
The GFOA recognition is akin to earning accreditation, Lewis further noted. “It’s just one more measuring stick.”
For more information regarding financial and resource management services, county residents are encouraged to visit the Office of Financial Management page.
For more information, call 311 or visit scgov.net.