City honored for financial reporting

The City of Sisters has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its June 30, 2009 comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). This is the first time Sisters has received this award.

GFOA notes that the Certificate of Achievement is the highest form or recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.

Lisa Young, finance director for the City of Sisters, received an award of Financial Reporting Achievement as the person primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning CAFR.

The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

At the September 9 council meeting, Michelle Hawkins, president of the Oregon Municipal Finance Officers Association, presented the GFOA's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Lisa Young, recognizing that the City of Sisters has met all of the GFOA requirements for excellence in preparing the 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

"This is the first year the City of Sisters has received the CAFR award, and it is a distinguished honor for any government," Young said. "I am pleased that GFOA has recognized the outstanding work of our department, and I am very fortunate to have a great finance team of Lynne Fujita-Conrads, Liz Majury and Julie Pieper, who are all dedicated professionals, managing the city's finances."