Water Replenishment District Garners 'Top Municipal Budget Award'

Since 2004, the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers Recognizes the District's Best Budgeting & Management Practices

LAKEWOOD, Calif., March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) has been awarded the prestigious California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) Meritorious Award for Excellence in operating budgeting for its 2009/2010 budget presentation and process. Since 2004, the District has been recognized by CSMFO because of its rigorous budget reporting and public transparency efforts.

The purpose of the CSMFO is to enhance and promote the professional management of governments for the public benefit by identifying and developing budgeting and management policies and practices while promoting them through education, training and leadership.

"The Board of Directors and the WRD staff are much honored to once again receive such a prestigious award from the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers," stated WRD Board President Albert Robles.  "This award is a testament to the hard work that the District undergoes to make our budget documents informative, transparent and easy to understand by the public we proudly serve."

WRD received its sixth Meritorious Award for Excellence after passing a rigorous examination process that honors agencies like the District for meeting a high level of criteria in the quality of their budget documents.  As one of the leading organizations dedicated to excellence in municipal financial management, CSMFO awards California agencies for preparing budgets that meet exceptional standards for effectively communicating financial information to the general public.

"For six consecutive years the District has earned the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers' top award for budgetary excellence. This award recognizes the outstanding efforts that the District undertakes in the management of public resources," stated WRD Board Director Sergio Calderon, Chair of the Finance Committee.

"WRD staff works hard to ensure that we rightfully manage public resources. And this award is a testament to the District's efforts. It represents WRD's best management practices of public funds," stated WRD General Manager Robb Whitaker.

CSMFO is California's premier statewide association for finance professionals.  This includes employees and elected or appointed officials who are involved in government finance for cities, special districts and counties in California.

About WRD

Created by voters in 1959, WRD is a regional groundwater management agency that protects and preserves the quantity and quality of groundwater supplies for nearly four million residents in southern Los Angeles County or 10% of the State's population.

SOURCE Water Replenishment District of Southern California