By Matt Weinagrden, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter
The Town of LaSalle has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the tenth year in a row. The honour, presented by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), recognizes the quality and clarity of the municipality’s 2025 budget document.
“This continued recognition is a reflection of the hard work, attention to detail, and collaboration that go into producing a high-quality budget document year after year,” said Mayor Crystal Meloche. “Kudos to our Finance Department for leading the charge, and to all departments for their contributions.”
The award is based on internationally accepted guidelines for budget presentation. These guidelines assess how well a budget functions as a policy document, operational guide, financial plan and communications tool. To qualify, a municipality must earn a “proficient” rating in each of these areas and meet 14 mandatory criteria.
“Congratulations, Team LaSalle. This award is a significant achievement,” said Joe Milicia, the town’s chief administrative officer. “Each department plays a role by submitting information and recommendations that reflect the goals in our Strategic Plan.”
Milicia added that the submission process involves a rigorous evaluation and that the resulting documents have become more refined over the years. “We continue to evolve the budget, making it a more prominent foundational document for our municipality while also increasing its value and clarity for the community.”
More than 1,600 participants from across Canada and the United States are part of the GFOA’s Budget Awards program, which aims to promote excellence in public budgeting.