MONTICELLO- Sullivan County has once again received national recognition for the quality of its budget presentation, earning the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 11th consecutive year.
The award recognizes governments that produce budget documents meeting high standards as policy documents, financial plans, operations guides, and communications tools.
Sullivan County’s 2026 budget was among more than 1,900 budgets reviewed by a panel of GFOA judges. The county met the organization’s criteria in all four evaluation categories.
County Manager Josh Potosek said the county does not take the recognition for granted despite its long streak of awards.
“Though this is the 11th time we’ve earned this award, we never take it for granted,” Potosek said. “A budget as large and as complicated as the County’s is challenging not only to put together but to convey to the public. The staff of our Division of Management & Budget remains committed to doing what it takes to ensure transparency and accountability in presenting the County’s key financial document.”
Management and Budget Commissioner Anna-Marie Novello credited collaboration across county government for the recognition.
“It’s thanks to the support we receive — from the County Manager’s Office to the fiscal officers in every department — that allows us to produce an award-winning document that informs both public and staff about how we spend taxpayers’ money,” Novello said. “I’m proud of my staff and the work we do, and we always appreciate this award.”
District 3 Legislator Brian McPhillips, chairman of the Legislature’s Management and Budget Committee, said the repeated recognition reflects the county’s commitment to transparency.
“Taxpayers deserve to know how their government is spending their money, and I’m grateful and proud to say that County staff make sure budget information is accessible and understandable,” McPhillips said. “As the staff have now earned this award for multiple years, this should give the taxpayers confidence in the effort put into protecting their investment and steering the County in the right direction, even during challenging times.”
The GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is presented to state and local governments that demonstrate excellence in preparing budget documents that are both informative and accessible to elected officials, staff, and the public.
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