Waukegan Park District recognized with two awards

The Waukegan Park District has announced that the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada has recognized it with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award.

For nine consecutive years, the Waukegan Park District has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for preparing a comprehensive annual financial report that evidences the spirit of transparency and full disclosure.

Reports are reviewed by selected members of the GFOA professional staff and the GFOA Special Review Committee, which comprises individuals with expertise in public sector financial reporting and includes financial statement preparers, independent auditors, academics and other finance professionals.

The Comprehensive Annual Finance Report is available at waukeganparks.org/cafr.

For the second year in a row, the Waukegan Park District was awarded the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award for publishing a readily accessible and easily understandable popular annual financial report.

In order to be eligible to receive the Popular Annual Financial Report Award, the Waukegan Park District was required to receive the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

Reports are reviewed by selected members of the GFOA professional staff and by outside reviewers with experience in governmental accounting and financial reporting. The Waukegan Park District's Popular Annual Financial Report is available to the public online at waukeganparks.org/annualreport.

"The Board of Commissioners and staff are committed to meeting the highest principles of financial reporting and transparency," Waukegan Park District Executive Director Jay Lerner said.

"It is an honor for the Waukegan Park District to receive both awards again. Theodora Anderson, Jon Beckmann, Theodora Anderson, Kalina Garcia, Stacey Jozefiak, Mike Pavelich, Sally Sandine, Alice Swank, Jean Williams and April Yarza are to be commended for this outstanding accomplishment recognizing their exemplary work."

"The Waukegan Park District is one of only five park districts in the country to receive both awards, reflecting our continued commitment to transparency with the community we serve," Waukegan Park District President Marc Jones said.

"This award would not be possible without the staff's exceptional financial reporting. Our staff is truly the best of the best."