Every year, the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) recognizes school districts that exceed international standards in the way that they prepare and present their budget. When staff in the Twin Rivers Unified School District Budget Services Department chose once again to use the ASBO guidelines in the development of the 2011-2012 budget and submit it for the prestigious Meritorious Budget Award of Excellence, they weren't guaranteed a win.

"Each year requires an independent review of the application," explained Associate Superintendent Rob Ball. "I am extremely proud that we received this award for the second year in a row. It is an indicator of the extremely dedicated, highly qualified staff that we have working in the Twin Rivers Budget Services Department."

The Meritorious Budget Awards Program promotes and recognizes excellence in school budget presentation and enhances the school business officials' skills in developing, analyzing and presenting a school system budget. The program reviews a district budget from a variety of perspectives. The budget is judged on whether the district:

• Provides clear budget presentation guidelines
• Defines state-of-the-art budget practices 
• Encourages both short- and long-range budget goals
• Promotes sound fiscal management practices
• Promotes effective use of educational resources 
• Facilitates professional growth and development for budget staff
• Helps build solid development, analytical, and presentation budget skills

During the first four years as a newly unified district, Twin Rivers alone has endured more than $135 million in State education funding cuts. Twin Rivers competed with school entities (including school districts, educational service units, colleges, and universities) throughout the world for the honor. Last year, only three other K-12 districts in California received this internationally recognized award.