The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recently announced that Helix Water District is the recipient of a distinguished budget presentation award for its fiscal year 2022-23 budget document.

“This award shows the commitment by the district’s board of directors and staff to serving the public with integrity, fiscal accountability, and transparency,” said Kathleen Hedberg, Helix Water District’s board president. “Our budget is well organized and easy to read. We want customers to easily see what we are doing, how we are efficient and how we keep our operating costs steady.”

GFOA also recognized Helix’s administrative services department with a certificate of recognition for budget presentation. Producing the district’s budget is a group effort and the entire organization contributes to making the financial story of the district transparent to the residents and businesses it serves.

GFOA is a nonprofit association of public finance officials in Canada and the U.S. that establishes accounting standards and best practices for federal, state and local government. The distinguished budget presentation award, for example, recognizes budgets that serve as a public agency’s policy document, financial plan, operations guide and customer communications. To win the award, budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories and in the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories.

Over 1,700 public agencies participate in the budget awards program. You can find the most recent budget award recipients and their corresponding budget documents posted quarterly on GFOA’s website at gfoa.org.

Helix Water District treats and delivers water to 277,000 people in La Mesa, El Cajon, Lemon Grove and parts of Spring Valley, Lakeside and unincorporated San Diego County.