The City of Wichita Department of Finance was recognized on Tuesday, May 6, for winning a distinguished budgeting award for the 26th straight year. The City was also one of few cities in the United States to receive special recognition for performance measures and capital budgeting.
Mayor Carl Brewer and City Manager Robert Layton praised budget staffers for winning the 2013 Government Finance Officers Association Award (GFOA), which encourages and recognizes best practices in budgeting. The department scored “outstanding” in 60 out of 81 GFOA requirements and “proficient” in the remaining 21 requirements.
Layton, presenting during a City Council meeting, said the praise from peer reviews was exceptional and included:
- “One of the best budgets I have ever reviewed. You have given me ideas on how to improve mine."
- "The City should be commended on the excellent presentation of the budget. It speaks highly of Wichita."
GFOA judged 18,443 U.S. municipalities; 844 received the “Distinguishing Budget Award;” 18 received “Special Performance Recognition;” six received “Special Capital Recognition; the City of Wichita received the Distinguishing Budget Award and both recognitions.
Mayor Brewer praised department staffers for their outstanding service to the residents of Wichita. Layton thanked the City Council for its support and its goals of promoting budget excellence, transparency and citizen engagement, which has increased in recent annual budget processes due to the City’s greater emphasis on citizen participation and the growing number of ways residents are engaged including social media, public hearings and neighborhood presentations.
The City of Wichita budget totals $543 million. Currently, staff is developing the 2015 budget. Residents are encouraged to participate in the budget process through upcoming social media events, public hearings, and neighborhood presentations. Those dates will be announced soon.
