HAGERSTOWN – Washington County officials are all smiles after winning the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association for its 2026 Budget Document. Announced on Sept. 10, the accolade testifies to the county’s clear and community-friendly budget presentation.
To receive the award, Washington County’s budget had to meet nationally recognized guidelines that evaluate how well the budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communications tool.
The association presents this award to governments for excellence in budgeting, recognizing how the budget serves as a roadmap for policies, finances, operations and effective communication with residents. The win for Washington County reflects its commitment to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.
“This recognition highlights the dedication of our Budget and Finance team and the county as a whole to transparency, accountability, and excellence in financial planning,” Chief Financial Officer Kelcee Mace said. “Our goal is to ensure the budget serves not only as a financial document but also as a clear and accessible resource for our community.”
County Administrator Michelle Gordon said the award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our Budget and Finance team and reflects the county’s commitment to sound financial management and to providing our residents with a budget that is transparent, responsible, and aligned with the needs of our community.
In making the award, association officials said, “The structure and information included in the budget message is excellent and a good blueprint for the budget priorities,” and the “document has an excellent format, is well written and covers just the right level of detail.”
Nearly 2,000 governments from across North America participate in the Budget Awards Program.
