July 2, 2019
Media Contacts:
Mark Miller, Administrator, Office of Public Information, 410-313-2022
Janet Irvin, Director, Department of Finance, 410-313-3217
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced that Howard County continued a string of 43 years earning a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada. The professional group again recently honored the county for excellence in following generally accepted accounting principles in the “Comprehensive Annual Financial Report” (CAFR) submission for Fiscal Year 2018.
“For more than 40 years, our professional finance staff has upheld the highest accounting standards to earn this recognition from their peers. Howard County’s commitment to sound fiscal reporting and transparency for government spending remains second to none,” said Ball. “I want to thank everyone on our Finance team for their hard work and award-winning excellence for another year.”
The CAFR is an official, financial statement of record issued by the county each fiscal year. It includes statements of special revenue, capital projects, enterprise, internal service and trust, agency and general funds. The independently-audited report also provides information on long-term obligations and fixed assets, including infrastructure, and statistical charts on multi-year tax collection and assessable base figures. The CAFR offers transparency in government accounting for county taxpayers, elected officials, investors, vendors and consumers.
“It’s such an honor for the Finance team to receive the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association,” said Janet Irvin, Director, Department of Finance. “It again underscores the commitment of staff to accurately tell the County’s financial story for the taxpayers and members of the financial community.”
The Department of Finance collects and invests revenues in a fiscally responsible manner; provides financial services to taxpayers, businesses, agencies, residents and employees; and pays bills for the county.
GFOA represents more than 20,000 members as the premier association of public sector finance professionals providing support to state and local governments.