WHEATON PARK DISTRICT RECEIVES AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: November 22, 2016

Wheaton, Ill.—The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded the Wheaton Park District with a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting on November 1, continuing a 28-year tradition of success.

“This was the 28^th year we’ve received this highly coveted award,” said Assistant Finance Director Andrea Chiappetta. “This award signifies the highest form of recognition for excellence in state and local government financial reporting.”

It focuses on the comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR), prepared each fiscal year to provide the public with detailed information on the district’s revenues, expenditures, and changes in fund balances. Archives of past CAFRs are stored on the Transparency Portal, also home to board meeting minutes, contracts and agreements, ordinances, and more.

Chiappetta said the award reflects commitment to “transparency and full disclosure.”

“We achieve transparency and full disclosure by participating in this program’s rigorous standards,” she said. “Our audited financials undergo a review by two Special Review Committee members, who must give unanimous approval that our report is proficient in all aspects of the program’s standards.”

Along with the Transparency Portal, “we present our audited financials as hard copies at the DuPage County Historical Museum (102 E. Wesley St., Wheaton, Ill.), Wheaton Public Library (225 N. Cross St.), Wheaton Park District Community Center (1777 S. Blanchard St.), and the Prairie Administration Building (855 W. Prairie Ave.) for public viewing,” said Chiappetta.

Founded in 1906, GFOA provides training, consulting, networking, publication, recognition, and research opportunities for more than 18,000 government finance professionals throughout the United States and Canada. Chiappetta is proud to have earned its attention yet again.

“For fiscal year ended 2014, approximately 20 percent of Illinois park districts received this award,” said Wheaton Park District Executive Director Mike Benard. “It embodies a year’s worth of hard work by our dedicated finance team in cooperation with other district staff.”

To learn more about the Wheaton Park District’s commitment to transparency and to view past CAFRs, contracts, agreements, and more, visit wheatonparkdistrict.com/transparency-portal.