Officials in Forsyth County Tuesday were recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association for excellence in financial reporting for the 21st year in a row.
The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is traditionally awarded by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). This award was presented following Forsyth County’s annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year 2021.
In a more recent report, the county received a GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 2023 fiscal year, which is the 11th consecutive year they have earned that achievement.
The Certificate of Achievement and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award are both reportedly the highest levels of recognition in governmental accounting, financial reporting and budgeting, according to the GFOA.
“It is an honor to be a part of a county recognized for these achievements for numerous consecutive years,” Forsyth County Chief Financial Officer Marc Turk said. “The recognition signifies the hard work and determination of our Finance Department personnel.”
The 2021 comprehensive financial report was judged by a panel on the merits of demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure,” clarity in communicating the entire financial story and motivating users to read the report.
"It's a long time running, 70 years they've established this [award]," Forsyth County Manager David McKee said. "What this does is it allows for another level of transparency and allows for governments to go over and beyond."
The report can be viewed online via the finance department page on the county website.
The webpage report breaks down the county’s finances into several downloadable subcategories, including accounts payable, impact fees and millage rates dating back to 2019.
Forsyth County’s 2023 budget report was also examined by a panel of independent reviewers. It was found to meet the nationally recognized guidelines for effective presentation and is also available on the county website.
The GFOA is a nonprofit association that was founded in 1906, representing public finance officials throughout the United States and Canada. Their primary goal is to advance government finance practices by providing professional development, resources and research to their members. Currently, the GFOA has over 22,500 members.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2023/6/1188518/forsyth-county-earns-excellence-in-financial-accounting-award-continuing-21-year-streak