Title
Recognition of the Government Finance Officers Association Triple Crown Honor in Awards for the FY2021 Budget, FY2020 ACFR, FY2020 PAFR, and the NMC/OSA Audit Accountability Award.
Body
This item is to acknowledge the efforts of County staff in the preparation of the FY2021 Budget, FY2020 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), the FY2020 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), and the Audit Accountability Award granted jointly by NM Counties and the Office of the State Auditor. These award notifications occurred at various times throughout the past & present calendar year, therefore we are bringing them collectively in one item for Council recognition.
The GFOA announced on June 11 2021, that Los Alamos County received GFOA's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its FY2021 Budget. The press release (attached) notes, "The award represents a significant achievement by the entity. It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation." This award is the 29th year that Los Alamos County has received this honor.
On August 19 2021, the GFOA notified Los Alamos County of its Triple Crown Honor for winning awards in all three reporting categories for the Budget, ACFR and PAFR. This is the second year the County receives the designation.
On September 1, 2021, the GFOA announced that Los Alamos County received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and that, "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." This award is the 30th year that Los Alamos County has received this honor.
On November 22, 2021, the GFOA announced that the County's PAFR was awarded the Certificate of Achievement from GFOA. The PAFR "has substantially met the requirements of the PAFR program…these requirements are based on an evaluation of information presented, reader appeal, understandability, distribution and other elements.” This award represents the fourth year of receipt of this distinction in the four years that the PAFR has been submitted.
Finally, on January 23, 2022, at the annual New Mexico Counties Legislative Conference, NM State Auditor Brian Colon presented the County with the FY2020 Audit & Accountability Award for the County's FY2020 ACFR in recognition of continued audit achievement and financial management excellence. This is the 6th time the County received this recognition.
Attachments
A - FY2021 Budget Award Notification
B - FY2020 ACFR Award Notification
C - FY2020 PAFR Award Notification
D - NMC Audit Accountability Award Notification
E - Financial Achievement & Employee Recognition Slide