HART has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its Fiscal Year 2026 budget, marking a major achievement in public sector financial management.
The recognition is the highest form of acknowledgment in governmental budgeting, and reflects HART’s strong commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of public funds.
“The GFOA recognition underscores HART’s ongoing dedication to transparency and fiscal responsibility,” said Chief Financial Officer Shirley Shu-Hurley. “It reflects the hard work of our team and reinforces our commitment to managing public funds with integrity while continuing to earn the confidence of the community we serve.”
To receive the award, HART’s budget document was evaluated against nationally recognized guidelines that assess how well it serves as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and communications tool. The budget was required to rate “proficient” in all four categories and meet 14 mandatory criteria to qualify.
Participation in the GFOA’s Budget Awards Program includes over 1,900 government agencies across North America. HART’s inclusion in this distinguished group underscores the agency’s leadership and best practices in budgeting within the transit industry and the broader government sector.
