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Hoffman Estates Park District Earns Certificate of Achievement

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the U.S. and Canada has once again awarded the Hoffman Estates Park District (HE Parks) and Craig Talsma, Deputy Director/Director of Administration and Finance with a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for the fourth year in a row. The certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting and represents a significant achievement by HE Parks and its management.

CAFR certification recipients are determined by an impartial panel of GFOA representatives that select organizations that meet the high standards of the program and demonstrate a constructive "spirit of full disclosure" to clearly communicate their financial stories. GFOA is a non-profit professional association located in Chicago and Washington D.C. that serves 17,500 government finance professionals.

Deputy Director Talsma said that "financial responsibility and transparency are at our district's core values." HE Parks has received this award for the past four years. "Employees at HE Parks work responsibly with taxpayer funds and we have a dedicated accounting team overseen by Lynne Cotshott, Superintendent of Business who does a great job monitoring the daily business functions."

HE Parks adds this achievement to its impressive list of national and state-level awards. In 2017 the park district earned a 99% score in its review by the Park District Risk Management Agency (PDRMA). In 2013 the park district was accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). It has been recognized as an Illinois Distinguished Park and Recreation Agency by the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and is the recipient of the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Parks & Recreation Management by the National Recreation & Parks Association; the highest national honor in the public recreation category.

About HE Parks

Providing first-class parks, facilities, programs and services for a dynamic community of more than 50,000 in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, HE Parks operates two community centers, a premier 18-hole golf course, state-of-the-art fitness center, twin ice arenas, family aquatic center and more than 70 parks. Facilities include Bridges of Poplar Creek Country Club, Prairie Stone Sports & Wellness Center, Triphahn Community Center & Ice Arena, Willow Recreation Center, Vogelei Park & Barn and Seascape Family Aquatic Center. For more information, visit heparks.org or call (847) 885-7500.

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