Douglas County Receives National Award for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 37th Consecutive Year

Douglas County Commissioners Tim Freeman, Tom Kress, and Chris Boice recognized Chief Financial Officer Dan Wilson and the Douglas County Management and Finance Department for receiving the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (COA). The award, presented by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada, honors the department’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The report is available on the Douglas County website at: https://douglascountyor.gov/620/ACFR.

According to GFOA, the Certificate of Achievement represents the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting and signifies a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. The award was issued to Douglas County Government earlier this year, with the Board of Commissioners designating Wilson and his team as responsible for preparing the annual report. This marks the 37th consecutive year Douglas County has earned the honor.

“Everything we accomplish is rooted in the collaborative work of a team committed to excellence and accuracy,” said Commissioner Tim Freeman. “This is a significant achievement—the highest honor in government accounting, and one that not every county attains. Dan and his dedicated team play a crucial role in maintaining, balancing, and executing Douglas County’s financial accounting and reporting. We deeply appreciate their exceptional work in carrying out this important responsibility and congratulate them on receiving this distinguished honor.”

The ACFR was evaluated by an impartial panel and determined to meet the program’s high standards, including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate the county’s financial story and encourage users to review the report.

“This award opportunity is tied to our annual audit, which is just one of the many audits we undergo each year,” said Wilson. “This particular audit includes three components: 1) Overall accounting; 2) Internal Controls—evaluating the adequacy of our systems that provide checks and balances to ensure financial integrity; and 3) A Specialized Municipal Audit—covering public investing, public contracting, and revenues. Our financial activities are continually audited, and the employees in my department don’t simply meet the minimum standards. As this award demonstrates, we consistently go above and beyond.”

Founded in 1906, the Government Finance Officers Association represents more than 28,000 public finance officials across the United States and Canada. The organization provides best practices, professional development, resources, and research in support of excellence in government finance. More information about GFOA can be found at https://www.gfoa.org/.

Commissioner Freeman is pictured below with Dan Wilson, Douglas County Chief Financial Officer, holding the GFOA Award.