The City of Milwaukie’s Finance Department received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its Fiscal Year 2012 Budget from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada on Dec. 13, 2011.
In order to receive the award an entity must satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for budget presentation. The guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as: a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and 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.
The City completely reformatted its Fiscal Year 2012 Budget to make it more accessible, informative, and easier to read. Performance measures and department goals were added, the overall fund structure was reduced from 29 to 8 individual funds, and the layout and presentation was overhauled.
“This document is designed to be more transparent in the way the information is laid out, more meaningful and better organized,” Finance Director Casey Camors said. “You can pick this budget up and quickly get a well-rounded picture of the City’s finances, its operation plan for the coming year, and which Council priorities are funded for the organization.”
Camors said many deserve the credit for receiving this national award.
“Winning this award validates a lot of hard work put in by the Finance team and the City Departments,” Camors said. “Special thanks to the City Councilors and the citizen members of the Budget Committee.”
