The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has honored the City of Franklin with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for their fiscal year 25/26 budget. The award recognizes Franklin’s ability to produce a budget document that functions not only as a financial plan but also as a policy guide, operational tool, and communication resource for the community.
The City Administrator, Eric Stuckey, expressed appreciation for the team's effort behind the acclaimed budget presentation, stating, "This prestigious award is a testament to the dedication and excellence of our City of Franklin team. The budget process and budget document are vitally important in setting priorities and meeting community needs," acknowledging the contributions of the Chief Budget and Performance Officer, Michael Walters Young, and his team for their work, in a statement obtained by the City of Franklin.
Franklin was required to meet strict standards to qualify for the award, which assessed the budget’s effectiveness in presenting policy, serving as a financial plan, guiding operations, and communicating with the public. The city’s budget was evaluated across all four categories and fourteen mandatory criteria, with the results reflecting a high level of detail and transparency.
Chief Budget and Performance Officer Michael Walters Young led a team that carefully reviewed each line and allocation to ensure Franklin’s budget met the standards set by the GFOA. With over 1,900 participants in the Budget Awards Program, Franklin’s recognition places it among leading municipalities. As part of the program, recipients like Franklin now serve as reference points for other governments, with their budget documents publicly available on the GFOA website for those seeking examples of strong budget presentation and performance.
