County of San Luis Obispo Receives National Recognition for Budget Excellence

Author: Executive Office
Date: 3/31/2026 8:46 AM

The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award reflects the dedication of the County's Board of Supervisors and staff to meeting the highest standards in budgeting.

The County of San Luis Obispo has been awarded the prestigious Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), recognizing the County's commitment to transparency, accountability, and excellence in financial planning.

The award reflects the dedication of the County's Board of Supervisors and staff to meeting the highest standards in budgeting by a governmental agency. This is the 13th year in a row the County has been recognized.

To earn this recognition, the County's budget document was evaluated against nationally recognized guidelines and demonstrated proficiency in four key areas: serving as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications tool. The budget also met all required criteria within these categories, underscoring the County's strong fiscal management practices.

"Our goal is to build a budget that supports the Board's priorities including maintaining long-term fiscal sustainability," said Assistant Chief Executive Officer Lisa Howe. "This recognition reflects our commitment to responsible stewardship of public resources and to presenting financial information in a way that is clear, transparent, and meaningful to the community."

The GFOA's Budget Awards Program recognizes recipients for pioneering efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and for setting a high standard for other governments

The Government Finance Officers Association is a nonprofit professional organization that advances excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, and resources to public finance professionals. For more information about the County's budget, visit: About the County's Budget - County of San Luis Obispo.