HAHNVILLE – The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada recently presented the St. Charles Parish Council with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
To receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. The award represents a significant achievement and reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. These 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 14 mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.
When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual or department designated as being primarily responsible for its having achieved the award. The award was presented to Grant M. Dussom, chief financial officer, and the St. Charles Parish Department of Finance.
For budgets including fiscal period 2012, more than 1,340 entities are expected to receive the award. St. Charles Parish is one of fewer than 10 parishes to receive the award this year in Louisiana.