The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has named the Town of Garner a fiscal year 2024 "Triple Crown" winner.

The Triple Crown designation recognizes governments that, in a single fiscal year, have received GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for their annual comprehensive financial report; the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award for their popular annual financial report; and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for their adopted budget book.

The Town of Garner is one of just 441 governments among GFOA’s more than 35,000 members that received the Triple Crown for fiscal year 2024, the latest year for which judging is complete for the three documents that make up the Triple Crown. The Town also won the Triple Crown for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

“The Triple Crown designation underscores the excellence of our team and our commitment to providing accurate and timely financial information in easily digestible and transparent formats,” Town Manager Jodi Miller said. “I am exceptionally proud of our staff for meeting the high standards of all three of the GFOA award programs.”

As Finance Director David Beck observed, “it is truly a team effort to achieve these awards.” The Town’s Budget Book is the result of the year-round efforts of the Budget Department as well as the Town Manager’s Office, which rounds out Garner’s budget team.

The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report involves the Finance Department working with an independent auditor. The Popular Annual Financial Report is derived from the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and entails a collaboration between the Finance and Communications Departments.

Garner has already received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Judging results for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Popular Annual Financial Report for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 have yet to be finalized.

Overall, the Town has won the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for 36 consecutive years, the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award for 11 straight years and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the last five years.

The Town’s budget and financial documents are compiled online at garnernc.gov/departments/finance.

About the GFOA 

The GFOA strives to advance excellence in government finance by providing best practices, professional development, resources and practical research for the members and the communities they serve. More information about the GFOA and its award programs can be found at gfoa.org.

[From left] Finance Director David Beck, Senior Budget Analyst Celeste Gore-Purcell, Budget Director Sara Warren, Budget Analyst Joshua Fesmire and Communications Director Rick Mercier pose with the GFOA Triple Crown awards for outstanding budget and finance documents.