City earns financial reporting award; other news and notes

The City of Biloxi has been awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.

The award is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, It presented to Biloxi as a result of the city’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2005.

This award, according to the finance officers association, “represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. The purpose of the award is to recognize and encourage excellence in financial reporting by states, public colleges and universities, public retirement systems, counties and local governments.”

The award is given to those governmental entities whose financial report meets rigorous reporting standards. A review team under supervision of the GFOA found the Biloxi CAFR as one that gives readers a clear understanding of the city’s finances, and employs standardized terminology and formatting conventions that facilitate comparison among different governmental entities and from year to year.

To see the award, click here.

A copy of the city’s FY ‘05 CAFR — along with those from FYs 2002, 2003 and 2004 — is available in the Publications section of the city web site. To go there, click here.

News and notes

Webcasting: The issue of setback variances for storm-destroyed homes dominates the most recent City Desk webcast. To listen, click here.

Updated Katrina info: The city’s web site now includes updated information on Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. Updated information on relief agencies and an archives of citywide newsletters are included. Click on the Katrina & Biloxi icon on the front page of biloxi.ms.us.