Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/329100
For the 24th consecutive year, the City of Sarasota Finance Department has been hon- ored by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, the city has announced. The recognition is for the budget presented for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, a news release explains. It means the City of Sarasota bud- get "met or exceeded guidelines in four key categories, helping to make complex munic- ipal budgets user-friendly to taxpayers," the release continues. Those categories are pol- icy document, financial plan, operations guide and communications device. "Deputy Finance Director Kelly Strickland and Budget Manager Michelle Valentich were instrumental in earning the award," the release points out. "An honor like this continues to speak highly and reflect well upon our dedicated and tal- ented team in the Finance Department," said City Manager Tom Barwin in the release. "This will continue to instill confidence in our resi- dents that our community is well run." Nearly 18,000 government finance pro- fessionals are served by the Government Finance Officers Association. Approximately 1,400 received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, the release notes. CITY FINANCE DEPARTMENT WINS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD The City of Sarasota Finance Department has received a significant honor for the 24th consecutive year. Photo by Norman Schimmel Sarasota News Leader June 13, 2014 Page 84