The Hermiston School District has earned its 12th straight award for financial integrity and transparency from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).
The school district seeks review by the GFOA each year to ensure its business practices are in line with the association’s high standards for accountability. The Excellence in Financial Reporting certificate is awarded based on an organization’s annual financial reports and demonstration of a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” in communicating its finances with the public.
The award is the highest recognition for government accounting and financial reporting. Peer judges carefully review financial reports, debt management practices, per-student funding, reimbursed spending and other metrics to rate how taxpayer money is disbursed and reported.
“Our business department does an outstanding job of tracking every dollar we spend and keeping the school board and community informed about how the district is using its resources,” said Superintendent Tricia Mooney. “The Director of Business Services, Katie Saul and her team are responsive and make sure everyone is engaged, which fosters a culture of accountability.”
Along with opening its finances to a thorough audit, the school board works with a citizen committee to prepare and review the budget each year and publishes its financial reports and budgets on the school district website.
Find reports going back to 2006 on the district website.
