For Immediate Release

Monday, May 15, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Town of Andover Wins International Award for Government Budgeting

ANDOVER — Town Manager Andrew P. Flanagan is very pleased to announce that the Town of Andover has won an international award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its budget planning efforts.

The GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award represents a significant achievement for Andover, reflecting the town government’s commitment to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting, according to the award letter.

In order to receive the  award, the town had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well a municipality’s budget serves as:

• A policy document
• A financial plan
• An operations guide
• A communications device

All of Andover’s budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and must meet 14 mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.

Town Manager Flanagan accepted the award on behalf of the town.

“I am so proud of the Town of Andover’s efforts to produce a clear, concise budget and to lead our community through this annual process in a way that is in line with international best practices,” Flanagan said. “Thank you to everyone to contributes to the Andover town budget process ever year for your hard work and diligence.”

Andover is in good company. A total of 1,565 cities and towns in the U.S. and Canada received this award, out of nearly 23,000 communities in both countries — this means that Andover is in the top 7 percent of municipalities in both countries for its budgeting.

Locally, only 24 of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts received the award this year.

The Government Finance Officers Association is a major professional association servicing the needs of nearly 19,000 appointed and elected local, state, and provincial-level government officials and other finance practitioners. It provides top quality publications, training programs, services, and products designed to enhance the skills and performance of those responsible for government finance policy and management. The association is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices in Washington D.C. The GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program is the only national awards program in governmental budgeting.

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