Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency Receives Award

The Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA) was recently awarded the Certificate for Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR).

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government entity and its management.

Jennifer McCullar, finance manager at BBARWA, was presented an Award of Financial Reporting Achievement as the individual primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning CAFR.

CAFR submissions are judged by an impartial panel to insure the high standards of the program which include demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate the government’s financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read CAFRs. The GFOA established the CAFR Program in 1945 and BBARWA has earned this award three times.

CAFR program submissions are reviewed by selected members of the GFOA professional staff and their Special Review Committee (SRC) comprised of individuals with expertise in public sector financial reporting including financial statement preparers, independent auditors, academics, and other finance professionals. The goal of the program is not to access the financial health of participating governments, but rather to ensure that users of their financial statements have the information they need to do so themselves.

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals. They maintain offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C.

The Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA) provides centralized, environmentally friendly wastewater conveyance, treatment and disposal for the entire Big Bear Valley (79,000 acres) and is served by three separate collection systems.