December 01, 2022  |  09:56 am

Sheriff Randy Smith is pleased to announce the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association.

The national award represents a significant achievement by the agency and reflects the commitment of the agency and its staff to meeting the highest principles of government budgeting. 

In order to receive the budget award, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communication device.

Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and in the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award. Additionally, this year’s budget received Special Recognition for Strategic Goals and Strategies

There are more than 1,700 participants in the Budget Awards Program.  Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources and practical research for more than 22,500 members and the communities they serve.

“I am proud of the work Budget Manager Iwona Lenczewski and Chief Financial Officer Andrea Cosse did in presenting a budget that is both professional and easily understood, enabling citizens to see what their Sheriff’s Office is doing and how their tax money is being spent,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “We couldn’t complete the Budget Book without cooperation from all department heads and a special thanks to Public Information Officer Sgt. Suzanne Carboni, who contributed content, design and pictures; and Deputy Brian Schwaner, who edited the budget book.”  

The STPSO budget document is available for the public to view.