The Los Alamos County Finance Department staff show off their numerous awards during the regular County Council meeting Tuesday along with the County managers and councilors. From left, County Councilor Melanee Hand, County Manager Steven Lynne, Budget Manager Erika Thomas, Councilor Keith Lepsch, Management Analyst Melanie Ramirez, Council Vice Chair Theresa Cull, Accounting Operations Manager Beatrice Odezulu, Administrative Services Department Director Helen Perraglio, Councilor Randall Ryti, Council Chair Denise Derkacs, Councilor David Reagor, Payroll Manager Sonya Ortize, Chief Financial Officer Melissa Dadzie and Councilor Suzy Havemann. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Council recognized the numerous awards, accolades and achievements earned by the County Finance Department team.
According to agenda documents, council acknowledged the efforts of County Finance staff in the preparation of the FY2023 Budget, FY2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), the FY2022 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) and for receiving the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor (NM/OSA) Audit Accountability Award for its FY22 Audit.
It is further stated in the agenda documents that the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) announced Jan. 16, that Los Alamos County received GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its FY2023 Budget.
“The award represents a significant achievement by the entity,” according to a GFOA press release. “It reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. In order to receive the budget award, the entity had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation.”
This is the 31st year that Los Alamos County has received this honor.
On Aug. 10, 2023, the GFOA announced that the County received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and that, “The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.”
This award marks the 32nd year that Los Alamos County has received this honor.
Furthermore, on Nov. 20, 2023, the GFOA announced that the County’s PAFR was awarded the Certificate of Achievement from GFOA. The PAFR “has substantially met the requirements of the PAFR program…these requirements are based on an evaluation of information presented, reader appeal, understandability, distribution and other elements.”
This award represents the seventh year of receipt of this distinction in the seven years that the PAFR has been submitted.
On Jan. 30, GFOA confirmed that Los Alamos County will receive its Triple Crown Honor for winning awards in all three reporting categories for the Budget, ACFR and PAFR. This is the fifth year the County will receive the designation.
During the annual New Mexico Counties (NMC) Legislative Conference Jan. 18, the County was presented with the jointly issued Audit Accountability Award from the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor and the NMC Association. This marks the seventh year that Los Alamos County receives this award for audit excellence with zero audit findings.
