For 24 consecutive years, Sarasota County’s Office of Financial Management (OFM) has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)

“One of the county’s eight strategic goals is to ensure fiscal sustainability,” said Shannon LaFon, OFM Capital Budget manager. “This award acknowledges the many hours, hard work and dedication of our Financial Management staff along with the collaboration with other departments and constitutional officers to achieve that goal.”

National recognition is based on how well a budget serves as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and a communication device, and is rated based on 14 specific criteria.

“Like with many processes and planning, there’s sometimes ebb and flow, but we’re always steadfast in our fiscal responsibility,” said Kim Radtke, OFM Operating Budget manager. “For our staff and the county’s budget process to be consistently recognized for excellence is a great testament demonstrating our commitment to our citizens.”

The Sarasota County budget process includes upcoming meeting presentations, workshops and public hearings:

Budget Workshops: June 25, 27 and 30; July 1
Meeting Presentation: July 9
Budget Workshop: Aug. 20
Public Hearings: Sept. 8 and 22.

For meeting details, visit the county’s calendar at www.scgov.net.

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving more than 18,000 government finance professionals throughout North America. The GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting.