Niagara Region Media Release
For the ninth straight year, the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has recognized Niagara Region for its budget planning and delivery.
Niagara has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2021 Budget. This award was presented recently to the Region’s Financial Management and Planning Department and 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. These guidelines assess how well an entity’s budget serves as:
- Policy document
- A financial plan
- An operations guide
- A communications device
- Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and in the fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.
When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual(s) or department designated as being primarily responsible for having achieved the award. government unit achieving a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, which is the highest award in governmental budgeting, is presented to those government units whose budgets are judged to adhere to program standards
“I would like to extend congratulations to the Financial Management and Planning department for receiving this highest award in governmental budgeting. Transparency and responsible policy in our financial practices is of the utmost importance to Regional Council. So having said that, I am extremely proud that Regional staff who continuously work towards the highest standards in finance and budgeting.”
Regional Chair, Jim Bradley
There are over 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 governments throughout North America.
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources and practical research for more than 21,000 members and the communities they serve.