(Cochrane, AB) — The Town of Cochrane has received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the third consecutive year - clear validation that Cochrane’s budget continues to meet national standards for public-sector budgeting excellence. The recognition underscores Council’s and Administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and service outcomes for residents.
The GFOA program assesses how well a municipal budget performs across four categories: as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device. Cochrane's submission once again met, and in some cases exceeded, the program's benchmarks. Cochrane is among only ten Alberta municipalities to receive the award this year.
This year, the Town also introduced the Citizens’ Budget Book, a plain-language companion to the annual budget designed to build civic literacy around the budgeting process.
“This continued recognition signals disciplined planning and a focus on building trust,” said Kevin Blanchette, Executive Director of People & Strategy for the Town of Cochrane. “Our residents deserve a budget that is clear, understandable, and aligned to community priorities - and that's exactly what this award confirms.”
"Being transparent about how we invest taxpayers' dollars is one of the most important responsibilities we have as Council," said Mayor Morgan Nagel. "This award is a credit to the dedicated work of our Administration and finance team, who continue to set a high standard for financial planning and reporting while keeping our community's priorities at the centre of every budget."
Residents can find out more about the GFOA Award at https://www.gfoa.org/budget-award and review the 2026 Approved Budget at cochrane.ca/budget.
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