For the 25th year in a row, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to West Metro Fire Protection District for the District's 2021 annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR). The report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate an agency's financial story and make it accessible to the residents and businesses it serves.
"Transparency about our budget process is extremely important and part of building trust with our community," said Don Lombardi, Fire Chief, West Metro Fire Rescue. "We're honored that the GFOA recognizes our dedication to sound financial management and our commitment to serve."
West Metro's website hosts all the district's financial information, including the ACFR, most recent budget document, and links to the opengov.com platform, where visitors can see every details of the district's budget in real time. West Metro was one of the first fire agencies in Colorado to provide easily accessible financial information to its community.
The GFOA's Certificate of Achievement is the association's highest form of recognition in the area of government accounting and financial reporting. The award represents a significant accomplishment by a government agency and its management.
West Metro's Finance Division has been honored several times by the GFOA, including awards for Distinguished Budget Presentation, Excellence in Government Finance, and Excellence in Financial Reporting.
The GFOA is a non-profit professional association serving more than 20,000 government financial professionals in the United States and Canada.