The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has recognized the City of Dunwoody with two significant financial management honors — the certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting for the year 2023 and, the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for 2025. The former marks a continued tradition since Dunwoody became a city, while the latter complements the city's accolades with special recognitions for the display of Strategic Goals and Strategies as well as the presentation of its Capital Program, according to the city's official website.
Eric Linton, Dunwoody City Manager, expressed his pride in the finance team's efforts: "These are significant accomplishments and extremely prestigious awards for our finance team," he told the city's website. His statement reflects the rigorous commitment of the city staff and council to upholding the highest standards of fiscal responsibility and transparency. The awards stem from Dunwoody's adherence to these high standards, which, as the GFOA puts it, include "demonstrating a constructive 'spirit of full disclosure'" to effectively communicate their financial narrative.
Dunwoody's dedication to financial clarity has been recognized by the GFOA's impartial judging panel, which has marked its annual comprehensive financial report as a benchmark of excellence. Those interested can access the report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, which has met the rigorous criteria for full disclosure and transparency. Additionally, the city's success in its 2025 budget presentation, which adhered to recognized guidelines for effective budgetary communication, earned them the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, as noted in the report on the city's website.
Finance Director Richard Platto emphasized the team's dedication to making financial information accessible and clear. "Our goal is to produce financial and budget reports that are accessible, understandable, and transparent," he stated to the city's website. The honors serve as a testament to the finance department's unwavering commitment to high standards of accountability. The finance department staff pictured in the announcement includes Sima Hojjaty, Dawn White, Cassandra McDonald, Susan Austin, Delisha Robinson, City Manager Eric Linton, John Gates, Chris Murphy, Michelle Broadbelt, Finance Director Richard Platto, and Damien Johnson, with Donica Williams and Laurie Wargo not present in the photo.
The GFOA, established in 1906, supports over 20,000 federal, state/provincial, and local finance officials in North America and is dedicated to enhancing public finance practices. The City of Dunwoody received this recognition for its finance officers' adherence to the association's mission of advancing excellence in public finance.
