News

SARTA Recieves prestigious GFAO award for excellence in financial reporting, officials say recognition highlights transit agencies commitment to accountability, transparency.

May 31, 2023

Canton, Ohio (May 31st, 2023) – The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has once again awarded the group’s prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) Authority for its annual comprehensive financial report (CFR) for the fiscal year that ended December 31, 2021. This marks the 19th consecutive year the system has received the Certificate.

In a letter to SARTA conveying the award Michael Levine, GFAO’s Director of Technical Services noted that The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a governmental entity and its management.

SARTA Board President Attorney Ron Macala and CEO Kirt Conrad said the system received the award after an impartial panel of GFOA members determined that the 2021 CFR met the organization’s high standards which include demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” that clearly communicates the transit system’s financial story to the public and other interested parties. The Annual Report, which includes detailed information about the agency’s assets, liabilities, funding sources, expenditures, programs, services, financial performance, and future plans, may be viewed and downloaded at https://www.sartaonline.com/about/reporting/.

SARTA’s outstanding financial reporting also earned Auditor Keith Faber’s “Award with Distinction” in 2021 which he said acknowledges “…the hard work of fiscal offices who keep clean, accurate records. Their efforts go a long way toward making Ohio more efficient, effective, and transparent.” The System also received the Award in 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2020.

“These awards clearly demonstrate how seriously we take our commitment to accountability and transparency,” Atty. Macala said. “Our sound fiscal management combined with the outstanding mobility services we provide makes it easy to understand why the residents of Stark County value and support SARTA.”



For more information, please contact SARTA CEO Kirt Conrad at 330-477-2782.