City financial report honored for ninth straight year

For the ninth consecutive year, the city of Sarasota has received the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting for producing a budget summary document aimed at transparency and readability for the public. 

The award is presented annually by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA), recognizing cities and counties that make annual financial reports accessible and understandable for those with no background in government finance.

“This award represents the city’s commitment to transparency with the annual budget process,” said City Manager Marlon Brown in a news release. “The Financial Administration Department distilled the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, which is over 270 pages, into a 12-page professional report presented in layman’s terms. It’s an excellent resource for citizens.”

The award recognizes the city’s report for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2021. It was reviewed by GFOA judges and evaluated on criteria including reader appeal, understandability, dissemination methods and creativity. The award-winning report is available at the city of Sarasota’s website.

The current Popular Report, covering the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2022, is also available on the city’s website.