MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The City of Montgomery has earned the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its Fiscal Year 2026 budget—receiving the national recognition on the City’s first-ever submission to the program.
The achievement marks a significant milestone in Montgomery’s ongoing effort to strengthen financial transparency and accountability. For FY2026, the City’s Finance Department developed a more comprehensive budget document and, for the first time, chose to submit it for independent evaluation against GFOA’s nationally recognized standards for governmental budgeting.
Montgomery met those standards on its first attempt.
To receive the award, the City’s budget had to demonstrate proficiency as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communications device, while satisfying all 14 mandatory criteria established by GFOA.
“This recognition is especially meaningful because this was our first time pursuing it,” said Mayor Steven L. Reed. “Our Finance team set a higher standard for how we present the City’s finances, put that work before independent evaluators and earned national recognition on the first submission. More importantly, residents now have a more transparent and useful resource for understanding how their City invests public dollars.”.
Montgomery’s FY2026 budget book represented a significant expansion in the way the City presents financial and operational information. The comprehensive document includes the City’s strategic plan, budgeting process and calendar, financial policies, demographic information, departmental budgets and objectives, staffing information, funding sources, debt information and capital improvement planning.
“This was a team effort that required tremendous attention to detail and a commitment to presenting the City’s finances in a way that meets the highest professional standards,” Chief Financial Officer Betty P. Beville said. “We are proud of this recognition, but even more importantly, we are proud of what this document provides to our residents and our organization.”
The GFOA Budget Awards Program includes more than 1,900 participants. According to GFOA, award recipients represent governments that are working to improve the quality of budgeting and serve as examples for governments throughout North America.
Montgomery is among a small group of Alabama governments receiving recognition for this award cycle.
GFOA announcement attached.
View the 2026 Budget Book here.
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