Seven years straight! Lake Washington School District Budget Earns Meritorious Budget Award

Award reflects District’s goal of fiscal responsibility

Redmond, Wash. – Lake Washington School District’s (LWSD’s) 2023-24 Budget has earned the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) Meritorious Budget Award (MBA). This award promotes and recognizes excellence in budget presentation in school districts. LWSD has received this award seven years in a row. LWSD is the only district in the state of Washington to receive this award.

ASBO International’s MBA and Pathway to the MBA promote and recognize best budget presentation practices in school districts. Participants submit their applications and budget documents to a panel of school financial professionals who review the materials for compliance with the MBA Criteria Checklist and other requirements and provide expert feedback that districts can use to improve their budget documents.

Districts that successfully demonstrate they have met the necessary program requirements may earn either the MBA or Pathway to the MBA, an introductory program that allows districts to ease into full MBA compliance.

"As we continue to focus on effective ways to communicate our budget with our community, we are proud to receive this award for the seventh year in a row," stated Dr. Jon Holmen, Superintendent. "Our goal continues to be ensuring that our complex budget process is transparent and accessible for our community."

"Our budget summary document helps us to be transparent to our community about how we use their tax dollars," said Barbara Posthumus, Associate Superintendent of Business and Support Services. "Lake Washington School District is committed to ensuring that we are good stewards of public resources and it is important for our public to see how their resources are being used to provide an excellent education to our students."

"The Lake Washington School District Board of Directors is proud of earning this accomplishment for the seventh year in a row," said LWSD Board President Leah Choi. "The work done by LWSD to develop an accessible budget document is very important. It helps to build transparency around the use of tax dollars by our school system."

"Presenting a budget that is both accessible and accurate is crucial for school districts to clearly communicate and build trust with their communities," explains Jim Rowan, CAE, SFO, ASBO International Executive Director. "The Meritorious Budget Award program provides districts with the resources and tools to do just that, and the districts that receive the award are recognized for their commitment to upholding nationally recognized budget presentation standards."

You can view the 2023-24 budget on the LWSD website.

For more information about the Meritorious Budget Award or Pathway to the MBA, visit asbointl.org/MBA.

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About Lake Washington: Lake Washington School District is a high-performing public school district serving Kirkland, Redmond, and Sammamish, Washington. It is the second-largest district in the state of Washington, with over 30,000 students in 56 schools.