It’s the highest form of recognition for governmental accounting and financial reporting, and the City of Gastonia has now won the award for 26 consecutive years. The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada has awarded its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Gastonia for the City’s Fiscal Year 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The CAFR includes the annual audited financial statements, along with City data and statistical information.
Gastonia’s Director of Financial Services, Crystal Certain, said winning the national honor never gets old. “Even after 26 years, we never take this award for granted,” she said. “It shows the City’s commitment to producing annual financial reports that are inclusive, informative and transparent.”
According to the GFOA, the comprehensive annual financial report award “represents a significant achievement by a government and its managers.” The organization has more than 20,000 members working in federal, state, county, city or school district finance offices. The GFOA established its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to encourage state and local governments to communicate their financial stories through comprehensive annual financial reports.
