LANCASTER – At a time when California cities and municipalities across the nation are struggling to keep operations and public services afloat, the City of Lancaster has managed to create a comprehensive annual financial report, which garners the highest accolades from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA).
The GFOA recently announced that the 2012 Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting has been awarded to the City of Lancaster for its comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011.
“While cities are not required to submit for the GFOA’s financial reporting award, those with good financial processes usually do,” said City of Lancaster Director of Finance Barbara Boswell. “Bond rating agencies take these recognitions seriously as they gauge whether or not cities are being managed well financially.”
In order to be eligible for this award from the GFOA, a city must have what is called a “clean audit.” A clean audit reflects strong internal controls, and is identified in the auditing results of an organization as an “unqualified audit report.” An unqualified audit report is required for award consideration.
“Time and time again, our City excels at its financial management,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “Lancaster is able to maintain its quality of operations and services to the public because of wonderful leaders like Barbara Boswell who ensure we are running our processes efficiently and effectively. In spite of the state budget-raiding we have experienced over the last few years, the City continues to focus on what’s important. Excellent budget administration is a top priority for Lancaster. And I’m proud to have such a fine team of individuals keeping us on track and above water every year.”
The City of Lancaster’s Finance Department steers the financial reporting process by implementing day-to-day protocols which ensure all finance-related transactions and tracking stays on point. Pamela Statsmann, Assistant Finance Director, serves as the department’s primary lead in the day-to-day operations all year long and is noted as a key player in establishing and executing processes and procedures which qualify the City annually for this prestigious financial reporting award.
The Government Finance Officers Association seeks to demonstrate through this award an exemplary level of financial management practices for all government officials to aspire to, noting in their award letter their desire to encourage others to attain and maintain an appropriate standard of excellence in financial reporting.
(Information via press release from the City of Lancaster.)
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Paul Williams says
How many of the cities retired employees get more than $100,000 in retirement benefits? Mr. Gilley gets about $125,000 per year and he worked for the city for about 10 years.
Tina Marie says
I hate Jim Gilley and I am not the only one! I wish they would take his wife’s stupid name off of the building at the AV Fairgrounds. What did that bitch ever do for this town?
Adam Chant says
This is like ISO certification, it has little to do with the content and all to do with the processes of presenting the content. The debt or revenues held by a government entity is generally irrelevant to this certification, only the way it is presented it considered.
As long as it’s outlined in detail then it qualifies for certification.
If you don’t want to reply half cocked then read through the 78 page checklist http://www.gfoa.org/downloads/GENERALPURPOSECHECKLIST2011.pdf There is a lot that is considered before a government entity can qualify for this certificate. The value of the debt is not one of them.
+-= says
how can they get a reward for reporting finances, when we the people never see anything on the city’s finances? @Scott how do you know about this debt? Was it something the city released? Maybe this publication, the times, can tell us more?
Adam Chant says
Lancaster = http://www.cityoflancasterca.org/index.aspx?page=137
Palmdale = http://www.cityofpalmdale.org/city_hall/budget/index.html
Budget information is available online and the budget can also be obtained by contacting the city directly.
I’m not trying to create any chatter between the budgets of the tow cities, I’m just pointing out that this is freely available public information.
Scott Pelka says
The city has almost a half a billion in debt. All this is just another form of creative bookkeeping to try and get a higher bond rating from the crap “JUNK” bond status the city now enjoys. Whats next a pyramid scheme to try and make more money for the city. I am surprised they haven’t co branded with AMWAY yet