Local finance officers receive certificates of excellence

COLUMBUS — Polk County and Columbus officials were recently awarded with certificates of excellence in financial reporting.

Columbus Town Council met Thursday and presented town assistant finance officer Kathy Gregory with the certificate, while the Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday and presented county finance officer Sandra Hughes with the certificate.

Gregory has received the award a total of 26 years. She has worked with Columbus for nine years.

Hughes has received the award 22 years. She’s been with Polk County for 19 years.

“Very often in the news, we hear bad things about county’s financial reporting and it’s good to hear that we are being recognized for excellence, and that’s because of Sandra Hughes,” said Polk County Commissioner Chair Jake Johnson.

The certificates were given for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017.

The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting is given by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The certificate is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.

The CAFR is judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate its financial story.

Hughes said out of North Carolina’s 100 counties, Polk is one of 55 to receive the certificate.