In January, Macon-Bibb County was notified that the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) had selected it to receive the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its Fiscal Year 2015 budget. In order to receive the award, Macon-Bibb’s budget document had to serve as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device, and then it had to be rated as proficient in each of those areas. To view the budget, click here.
According to GFOA, the award “reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation.”
“The award demonstrates the hard work of the Finance and Budget teams in combining all aspects of the two previous governments,” Commissioner Gary Bechtel, who serves as the Chairman of the Operations and Finance Committee. “They took great care to make certain that policy decisions made by the Commission and administration were carried out according to the budget document and all of the tax revenues were properly accounted for.”
“To have earned this award for Macon-Bibb’s very first full-year budget sets an expectation and standard as we begin the budgeting process for next year,” says Mayor Reichert. “Our Budget Team is to be highly commended for working closely with the Commission, departments, the courts, the Sheriff’s Office, and other agencies to create this document and help us meet our mandated budget reductions while continuing to provide services.”
“This award shows us and the community we have assembled a high quality team that can develop work at a very high level,” says County Manager Dale Walker. “Earning this award on its very first effort within a new system, a new structure, a new culture, less revenue, and a mandated reduction 5% – all while listening to the needs of the Commission, the public, and departments – was nothing short of phenomenal”
Included in the award notification were highlights of the different areas reviewed. Some of the comments include:
- “A good budget message was provided with a summary of the issues facing the county. The issues related to consolidation are clearly the focus.”
- “The document includes good charts and graphs which provide understanding of the budget.”
- “You have produced an informative document. This reviewer is amazed that this level of dedication and skill is present despite the consolidation effort.”
While this award recognizes the new Macon-Bibb County, it is an award that was earned by the former Bibb County 29 times and former City of Macon 22 times.
About GFOA
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 GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting.