Date: November 22, 2004
Contact: Irene Cromer
703-791-8720

SCHOOL DIVISION EARNS SIXTH CONSECUTIVE BUDGET AWARD

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada has awarded its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award to Prince William County Public Schools for its annual budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004. This is the sixth consecutive year that the school division has earned this award, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting.

In a press release announcing the award, the GFOA said, “The award represents a significant achievement by [Prince William County Public Schools]. It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.” The school division’s budget met nationally recognized guidelines that assess how well an entity's budget serves as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan, and as a communications device.

The GFOA has presented a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation to Robert Horwath, Supervisor of Budget. Horwath, Director of Finance David Cline, and Associate Superintendent for Management Wayne Mallard, will be recognized for this accomplishment at the February 2, 2005 School Board meeting.

Since the inception of the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program in 1984, approximately 900 entities have received the award. 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 is a nonprofit professional association serving 14,000 government finance professionals throughout North America. The GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting. For information on GFOA contact Stephen J. Gauthier at 312-977-9700.

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