Summit County has again received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association. This marks the 24th consecutive year the county has earned the honor.
National Standards Met
The award recognizes budget documents that reflect nationally recognized standards and best practices in budgeting. A budget must excel as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and communications tool to qualify. The GFOA established the award in 1984 to encourage governments to produce high quality budget documents.
Executive Ilene Shapiro credited her staff for the achievement. “I am very proud of the exceptional work produced by our Department of Finance and Budget,” Shapiro said. “Director Phil Montgomery and his team continue to demonstrate what it means to be good stewards of public dollars, and this award is a reflection of their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to serving the residents of Summit County.”
Triple Crown Achievement
This latest honor builds on another milestone reached this year. Summit County earned its first ever GFOA Triple Crown Award, presented to governments that receive all three of the association’s highest financial reporting awards in the same year. The Triple Crown recognized the 2024 Operating Budget and the 2024 Popular Annual Financial Report, both prepared by the Department of Finance and Budget. It also recognized the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, prepared by Summit County Fiscal Officer Kristen Scalise.
Open Finance Platform
County officials also pointed to their Open Finance platform as part of the transparency effort. The tool provides real time updates to the county budget, giving residents access to information about revenues, expenditures, and budget priorities. Together, the awards and the online tools reflect the county’s ongoing commitment to transparency and good governance.
Residents can view the county’s budget online at co.summitoh.net.
