WOODSTOCK, Ill. – McHenry County’s excellence in financial reporting has earned it a special inaugural honor from a national organization of finance professionals.
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada has bestowed a Triple Crown medallion to the county for winning all three annual awards granted by the association in one year. The county’s work on its FY 2019 financial reports won it the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, as well as the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
This is the first year that GFOA has bestowed the Triple Crown; McHenry County is one of only 292 governments nationwide receiving it this year.
“McHenry County prides itself on being transparent, especially regarding taxpayer money, and once again, McHenry County government takes its place among the nation’s best as an example to follow,” County Board Chairman Mike Buehler, R-Crystal Lake, said.
The GFOA is a nonprofit professional organization that advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources, and practical research for more than 21,000 members, and the communities they serve.
County Chief Financial Officer Kevin Bueso thanked Karin Dietz, Assistant Finance Director – Accounting, and Kerri Wisz, Assistant Finance Director – Budgeting, for their hard work. While this year is the first that the GFOA is awarding the Triple Crown, McHenry County has won all three of the qualifying awards on at least six occasions in recent years.
“We work hard to ensure that the will of the County Board is done regarding responsible, open and transparent financial reporting,” Bueso said. “We’re honored to yet again be recognized with top national accolades for our work and attention to detail.”
The annual comprehensive financial report lists a government’s audited year-end fiscal activities in great detail, while its popular annual financial report is smaller and designed to be understandable by the general public. The budget award is given to governments whose actual budget documents meet or exceed all criteria set forth by GFOA.
McHenry County maintains a Financial Dashboard where people can easily review revenues and expenses, both overall and year-to-date, since the 2017 fiscal year. It can be found on the county website at www.mchenrycountyil.gov/financialdashboard.
Last month, Moody’s Investors Service assigned McHenry County government its top Aaa bond rating for the 11th straight year; McHenry County is one of only three county governments in Illinois, and only 107 nationwide, to have the top rating.
