The Dubuque Community School District has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International for having met or exceeded the program’s high standards for financial reporting and accountability. The award is for the district’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending in 2014.

“The district budget is a complex accounting system that can be overwhelming to absorb and understand,” said Kevin Kelleher, executive director of finance and business services for the Dubuque Community Schools. “Our annual financial report is one tool that illustrates the big picture of the district finances. We hope that our Certificate of Excellence helps assure taxpayers of our work to be responsible stewards of resources in a way that always benefits the students of the Dubuque Community Schools.”

Each year, the Dubuque Community School District manages a budget of approximately $160 million. The Certificate of Excellence award confirms the district business office’s commitment to financial accountability and transparency. According to ASBO, recognition in the Certificate of Excellence program can strengthen a district’s presentation for bond issuance statements and promotes a high level of financial reporting.

The recognition program is presented by the Association of School Business Officials International and is sponsored by VALIC, the number one provider of K-12 403(b) retirement plans in America. The ASBO, founded in 1910, is a professional association of more than 5,000 members that provides programs and services to promote the highest standards of school business management practices, professional growth and effective use of educational resources.