Union County’s Budget & Grants Management department received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the County’s annual budget document for the period beginning July 1, 2024. The Board of County Commissioners honored the accomplishment during a regular meeting on June 2, 2025, for achieving the highest principles of governmental budgeting.

“It is such a tremendous honor to earn the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting,” said Jason May, Director of Budget and Grants Management. “Our team works hard each year to ensure we present a budget that not only meets or exceeds industry standards but reflects our efforts to show the County’s organization, transparency and accountability.”

To receive the budget award, the County met nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity's budget serves as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device.

Budget documents must be rated "proficient" in all four categories, and in the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.

There are more than 1,700 participants in the Budget Awards Program. Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America, according to the Government Finance Officers Association.

The Budget department was recognized at a June 4, 2025, Union County Board of Commissioners meeting for earning the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for budget preparation. Pictured from left to right: Blake Hart, Chair Melissa Merrell, Mary Namala, Jodi Price, Greg Artman, Jason May, and Megan Gibson.