Staff reports
Beaufort County School District (BCSD) has been honored with two recognitions by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget.
According to the GFOA, the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting was awarded to BCSD for its annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2023. The report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report.
The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.
The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award represents a significant achievement by the district, reflecting the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the district had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as:
• A policy document;
• A financial plan;
• An operations guide; and
• A communications device.
Budget documents had to be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and in the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.
There are more than 1,700 participants in the Budget Awards Program. The most recent Budget Award recipients, along with their corresponding budget documents, are posted quarterly on GFOA’s website. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other government agencies throughout North America.
