Borough officials receive GFOA award

PALMER — The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly and audience members gave Borough Finance Director Cheyenne Heindel and staff a standing ovation last night for a budget award from the Government Finance Officers Association. Called a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, the honor is granted to "recipients who have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America."

More than 1,600 participants are in the program. The award also reflects "the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting," the organization's press release states.

In order to receive the budget award, the entity 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

• a communications device

Budget documents must be rated "proficient" in all four categories, and in the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.

There are over I ,600 participants in the Budget Awards Program.