Status: In Progress

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) is the professional association of state/provincial and local finance officers in the United States and Canada. The purpose of the GFOA is to enhance and promote the professional management of governments for the public benefit by identifying and developing financial policies and best practices and promoting their use through education, training, facilitation of membership networking, and leadership. The Department of Budget & Management (DBM) submitted the County’s adopted budget for the fiscal year 2009 to the “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” program in order to seek GFOA certification. In order to receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program criteria:

• as a policy document
• as an operations guide
• as a financial plan
• as a communications device

Although Hidalgo County did not receive the “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” for the fiscal year 2009 from the GFOA, DBM will continue to revise the budget document in order to meet GFOA standards for future years to be able to receive the award.

Major Project Activities:

• Develop financial policies and procedures to be in compliance with GFOA standards
• Develop departmental workload measures, including departmental descriptions, to be in compliance with GFOA standards
• Develop applicable budget discussions and narratives to be in compliance with GFOA standards
• Reformat budget document (financial and narrative sections) to meet GFOA standards