Manitoba Lotteries Budget Practices

Manitoba Lotteries Still At The Top For Budget Practices

Recognized for eighth straight year, with special recognition this year for policy document, performance measures and capital presentation

Winnipeg, Manitoba – Manitoba Lotteries has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for again meeting the criteria for exemplary budget presentation for its annual budget for the 2011/2012 fiscal year.

Manitoba Lotteries is the only entity in Manitoba and the only gaming organization in North America to earn the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) recognition this year. It is uncommon for a Crown Corporation to receive this status.

In order to receive this award, an organization must produce a budget document that meets the criteria as a financial plan, an operations guide, a policy document, and as a communications device. Manitoba Lotteries’ team of finance employees works hard to gather and synthesize information from 22 service units within the corporation during the course of the annual business planning process.

“We feel it is important to meet these particular standards,” said Winston Hodgins, President and CEO of Manitoba Lotteries. “I am very proud of the hard work our team puts into these budget presentations year after year. It means a lot to us to receive one of the highest forms of recognition in government budgeting.”

Tracy Graham, Chief Financial Officer for Manitoba Lotteries says, “It is always a relief when the 300-page document is sent to GFOA for review.” She adds that the end result is very gratifying. “The document serves as the key financial information tool that is then used by executives and government officials as a plan to guide us toward the year ahead.”

The GFOA awards program was established in 1984 and recognizes excellence in budget documents. The program is designed to encourage governments to prepare budget documents that are of the highest quality to meet the needs of decision-makers and citizens.

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News release document