The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) is excited to announce that it has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).

To receive the award, VCTC had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. These guidelines assess how well VCTC’s budget serves as a policy document, financial plan, 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.

VCTC’s board approved the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget at its regular meeting in June. The budget is available for viewing on VCTC’s website. The FY 2024-25 total annual budget is $131.6 million, a 4.6 percent increase from the previous year. It is a balanced budget with no bond debt obligation.

Budget preparation begins months in advance and is overseen by Finance Director Sally DeGeorge. Department directors and program managers prepare budget reports and plans, which are then reviewed and approved by Executive Director Martin Erickson. The VCTC Finance Committee reviews the budget before it is presented to the full Commission for consideration.

“The annual budget is a straightforward, easy-to-read document that provides full transparency into VCTC’s activities and use of public dollars,” Erickson said. “This award reflects the careful work of our Finance Director, Sally DeGeorge, the Finance department and the entire VCTC staff. We are honored to be recognized by GFOA.”

The Budget Awards Program has more than 1,700 participants. The most recent award recipients, along with their corresponding budget documents, are posted quarterly on GFOA’s website.