The Baldwin County Commission recently announced it has been awarded the Government Finance Officers Association's (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its budget.

This recognition underscores the commitment of the commission and staff to the highest principles of governmental budgeting, according to a statement from the commission. To earn this award, Baldwin County satisfied nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines assess how well a budget serves as:

• A policy document;
• A financial plan;
• An operations guide; and
• A communications device.

Budget documents must be rated "proficient" in all four categories and in 14 mandatory criteria within those categories to receive the award. There are over 1,900 participants in the Budget Awards Program throughout North America. The GFOA advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources and practical research for more than 25,000 members and the communities they serve.