United Independent School District

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has once again awarded the United Independent School District (UISD) Business and Finance Office the “Distinguished Budget Presentation Award” and “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.”  This is the tenth and the thirteenth consecutive time, respectively, that the Office has garnered these achievements.

“On behalf of our Board of Trustees, I would like to congratulate the dedicated staff members of the Business and Finance Office,” said UISD Superintendent Roberto J. Santos.  “To have consecutively attained these awards reflects their commitment to UISD and the community,” he continued.

The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award represents a significant UISD achievement.  It manifests the responsibility of the governing body and UISD staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.  In order to receive the budget award, the District had to satisfy 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
• A communications device

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

“Our goal is to remain focused on the fiscal responsibility we have for the District and our taxpayers,” said Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Laida P. Benavides, CPA.

The Department also received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR).  The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.  It represents a significant accomplishment by a governmental entity and its management.

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The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR.

The Government Finance Officers Association is a non profit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago, IL, and Washington, D.C.

For information contact the UISD Business and Finance Department at (956) 473-6222.

The United Independent School District is the largest employer in Laredo serving approximately 42,000 students and employs 6,700 employees.  UISD is comprised of 41 campuses, three magnet programs, one Career Academy, and an alternative education campus.  UISD encompasses 75% of Laredo and serves communities in Rio Bravo and El Cenizo.