GFOA Award

Flagler County receives ‘Distinguished Budget Presentation Award’ for 16 years running

April 7, 2025 – Flagler County is being praised again for its annual budget presentations for the 2024-2025 fiscal year by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

Flagler County’s 2024-25 fiscal year budget was rated in four categories: as policy documents, as financial plans; as operations guides; and, as communications devices.

“This award represents the 16th straight year the county has attained this honor showing the Board of County Commissioners’ steadfast commitment to not only achieving, but maintaining, excellence in governmental budgeting,” said Financial Services Director John Brower. “In addition, for the 3rd year in a row, the budget award for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025 includes receiving Special Recognition, this time for our long-range operating financial plans.”

These awards are the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting and its attainment represents a significant governmental achievement, according to the GFOA.

Brower credits staff with pulling together the award-winning document including: Senior Office of Management and Budget Analysts Amanda Gilbert and Brandy Allen; Office of Management and Budget Analysts Michael Catalano and Phoebe LeBlanc; and Office of Management and Budget Manager Brian Eichinger. “This award is unique in many ways,” Brower said. “It deeply involves input from every department across our organization, working with the Office of Management and Budget as they create and fine tune the most important, most visible, comprehensive tool we have to offer our citizens.”

There are more than 1,600 participants in the Budget Awards Program. According to the GFOA: “Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.”