WILMINGTON, DE – Mayor John Carney and the City of Wilmington’s Office of Management and Budget announced today that Wilmington has earned the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for the City’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget.

An award representing the highest recognition in governmental budgeting, this marks the 36^th consecutive year that the City has received this honor.

“The Fiscal Year 2026 budget makes responsible investments in the programs that move our city forward,” said Mayor John Carney. “I want to thank Director Rob Greco and the OMB team for their continued dedication to creating a transparent, accessible, and high-quality budget for the residents of Wilmington.”

Awardees are determined by a panel of independent reviewers who assess the budget based on its efficacy in serving as:

·      A policy document

·      A financial plan

·      An operations guide

·      A communications device

To qualify for the award, the budget must receive a rating of “proficient” or higher in all four categories and in 14 additional mandatory criteria.

“The Carney Administration is committed to integrating long-term strategic and fiscal planning into the development of a budget that is both comprehensive and accessible,” said Budget Director Robert Greco. “Our goal is to ensure residents can clearly understand the wide range of essential services their City government delivers, and to have confidence that their tax dollars are being managed responsibly and effectively.”

“This budget demonstrates our commitment to the needs and priorities of our City. I want to express my sincere gratitude for everyone’s hard work and collaboration in bringing this to fruition,” said City Council Finance and Economic Development Committee Chair and 4th District Council Member Michelle Harlee.

“With this budget, we can continue investing in initiatives that will create a meaningful impact. Together, we continue to lay the foundation for a brighter tomorrow for Wilmington residents, addressing critical issues that matter to our constituents such as the EMT services, Neighborhood Stabilization, Water-bill Utility Assistance, and the Office of Educational Advocacy. Let us continue to work collaboratively to ensure its successful implementation.”

The City’s annual budget documents are available at the Office of Management and Budget webpage. Additional interactive financial reports can be accessed through OpenGov.

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) aims to advance excellence in public finance throughout the United States and Canada. The association consists of more than 20,000 federal, state/provincial, and local finance officials involved in planning, financing, and implementing thousands of governmental operations in each of their jurisdictions.

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