City of Newberry Earns Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting

The City of Newberry Finance & Administration Department was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019. The Certificate is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by the City. The award embodies the City’s goal of demonstrating transparency and disclosure of City funds in financial reporting so that it is easy to understand how money is received, where money is spent, and overall financial position. This is the City’s second time receiving this prestigious award, which less than 5% of governments earn.

“Preparation of the CAFR requires a high level of collaboration among all of our staff and the dedication to stay current with continuously changing financial reporting requirements,” said Dallas Lee, Director of Finance & Administration. “We could not have won this award without the assistance of our other departments and the entire city staff in ensuring that we all hold ourselves to the highest levels of accountability and transparency. This recognition celebrates Newberry's continuous commitment to the responsible and transparent financial management and planning of our community. I commend and congratulate our team on their research, planning, and commitment to produce a timely and quality report." 

The city’s comprehensive annual financial report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report. 

“It is a tremendous honor for the City of Newberry to receive this prestigious award again. Our City’s fiscal accountability, transparency, and stability are always a top priority and this award demonstrates that we are operating both efficiently and with integrity," said City Manager Mike New. "I am pleased to see the City of Newberry's Finance Team recognized once again for its steadfast commitment to ensuring clear disclosure in financial reporting. This team understands the importance of breaking down the City’s financial information in an easily readable and efficiently organized comprehensive annual financial report. Their detailed and thorough work, day in and day out, is impressive and worthy of recognition. My thanks and congratulations to the team for this effort.”

The Government Finance Officers Association established the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Program in 1945. It encourages and assists state and local governments to go beyond the minimum requirements of generally accepted accounting principles to prepare comprehensive annual financial reports that evidence the spirit of transparency and full disclosure and then recognizes individual governments that achieve that goal.

To read the City's CAFR, please click here.