Flagler County is being praised for its annual budget presentations for the past two years by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).
Flagler County’s 2022-23 and 2023-24 fiscal year budgets were rated in four categories: as policy documents, as financial plans; as operations guides; and, as communications devices.
“These two awards represent the 14th and 15th straight years the county has attained this honor showing the Board of County Commissioners’ steadfast commitment to not only achieving, but maintaining, excellence in governmental budgeting,” said Financial Services Director John Brower. “In addition, the budget award for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, includes receiving Special Recognition for our Capital Program. The budget award for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, includes receiving Special Recognition for our Strategic Goals and Strategies. This marks the first time in our county’s history that we have received these enhanced distinctions.”
These awards are the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting and its attainment represents a significant governmental achievement, according to the GFOA.
Brower credits staff with pulling together the award-winning document including: Office of Management and Budget Analysts Michael Catalano, Brandy Allen, and Dan Nicholas; Senior Office of Management and Budget Analyst Amanda Gilbert; Office of Management and Budget Manager Brian Eichinger; and, Audio Video Production Coordinator Carlos Hernandez.
“This award is unique in many ways,” Brower said. “It deeply involves input from every department across our organization, working with the Office of Management and Budget as they create and fine tune the most important, most visible, comprehensive tool we have to offer our citizens.”
There are more than 1,600 participants in the Budget Awards Program. According to the GFOA: “Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.”
