Richmond Hill – For the third year in a row, the City of Richmond Hill has received the Government Finance Officers Association's (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award in recognition of its outstanding 2026 Budget and commitment to excellence in financial planning.

The GFOA also granted the City’s 2026 Budget a Special Recognition in the categories of “Strategic Goals and Strategies” and “Capital Program,” where all three independent reviewers handed out the highest possible scores.

The GFOA is a non-profit international association representing more than 25,000 government finance professionals throughout Canada and the United States. The association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award encourages governments to prepare and issue budget documents of the highest quality. It ensures the public is fully informed of the administration's policies, corporate initiatives and financial plans.

More than 1,900 governments across North America participate in GFOA's Awards Program. This recognition is a testament to Richmond Hill's strong commitment to transparency and accountability in how public funds are planned, managed and used.

The City’s 2026 Budget received the award after being rated proficient in 14 mandatory criteria, while its 2026 Budget Book was measured against nationally recognized standards to determine how effectively it functions as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communications device.

This recognition demonstrates how Richmond Hill is advancing the priorities outlined in its Strategic Plan 2024-2027 by managing resources effectively to support a sustainable future across financial, social, environmental and economic areas. Visit RichmondHill.ca/Budget to see the 2026 Budget Book and learn more about the City’s annual budget process.

Quotes

“This award is something our entire community can be proud of. As Richmond Hill continues to grow and the cost of living continues to change, we will continue to focus on making the best and smartest financial decisions for everyone in our city.”
- Mayor David West

“Congratulations to our Finance team for this outstanding achievement. Their professionalism, attention to detail and dedication to responsible financial management are vital to creating a budget that is clear, well-informed and focused on delivering the most value to our residents.”
- Darlene Joslin, City Manager