McHenry County receives the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association

WOODSTOCK, IL. – McHenry County, IL. was honored with GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its current budget.

The award represents a significant achievement by McHenry County. If reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, an entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as:

A policy document

A financial plan

An operations guide

A communications device

Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.

“Earning the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the second-year in a row is a testament to the dedication and consistency of staff and elected officials. The award reflects our commitment to transparency and making information publicly available wherever possible,” said McHenry County Board Chairman Joe Gottemoller.

The GFOA also presented a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation to the Finance Department as being primarily responsible for its having achieved the award.

“The Finance Department is essential to assisting staff and elected officials with maintaining financial strength. Year after year, they spend countless hours to ensure we exceed expectations in delivering an outstanding budget document. This award is credited to their competence, professionalism, and hard work,” said Gottemoller.

For budget beginning in 2013, 1,424 participants received the Award. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

The Government Finance Officers Association is a major professional association servicing the needs of more than 18,000 appointed and elected local, state, and provincial-level government officials and other finance practitioners. It provides top quality publications, training programs, services, and products designed to enhance the skills and performance of those responsible for government finance policy and management. The association is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices in Washington D.C. The GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting.