The city of North Bend has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2009 budget from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.

To get the award, North Bend had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. Guidelines are designed to assess how well a city budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device.

Budget documents must be rated proficient in all four categories, and fourteen mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.

The association also gave a certificate of recognition for budget presentation to city Finance Director Elena Montgomery and staff accountant Beth Waltz, as the primary individuals responsible for the city having achieved the award. They “pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America,” the association stated.

This is the city’s fourth national budget publications award, and is the second in a row following a 2008 award.