Dane County Controller Charles Hicklin Honored for Financial Reporting by National Association

November 22, 2006
Joanne Haas, Office of County Executive (608) 267-8823; cell (608) 669-5606
County Executive

Days before the $450 million 2007 Dane County budget was inked, County Controller Charles Hicklin was honored by a national association of his peers for his abilities to clearly communicate the county’s financial picture. “This is the highest form of recognition in the field of governmental accounting and financial reporting,” County Executive Kathleen Falk said of Hicklin’s award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United State and Canada. “Taxpayers will be glad to hear this award represents Mr. Hicklin’s ability to detail the county’s financial story to ensure cost-effective decisions are made. “In other words, this is what the association calls Hicklin’s dedication to the ‘spirit of full disclosure,’ “ she said. Hicklin, as the county’s chief financial officer, is responsible for preparing the county’s comprehensive annual financial report – also known as a CAFR. The finance officers association, a roughly 15,000-member nonprofit professional organization, honored Hicklin with their Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the county’s CAFR. An impartial panel judged the annual report for the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2005, regarding how well it detailed the county’s financial story. # # #