wdayradionow.com · September 8, 2026
North Dakota earns national award for financial reporting transparency for 35th straight year | WDAY Radio - AM 970 and FM 93.1
# North Dakota earns national award for financial reporting transparency for 35th straight year
- by Chris Larson - September 8, 2026 - 12:46 pm - Local News, News
The North Dakota State Capitol Complex in Bismarck (Photo via Valley News Live)
BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota has once again earned national recognition for its commitment to accountability and financial transparency. The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded the state its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the state’s 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
The award represents the highest honor in governmental financial reporting and accounting, signaling a major achievement for a government and its management team. This year marks the 35th consecutive year North Dakota has secured the distinction.
State law under N.D.C.C. 54-44-04.14 mandates the annual creation of the ACFR to provide a detailed overview of state finances and guarantee public access to financial information.
Joe Morrissette, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, stressed the vital necessity of these reports for state oversight.
“Accurate financial reporting is crucial to providing legislators, policymakers and the public with a clear picture of the state’s financial position and how public resources are being managed,” Morrissette said. “This recognition reflects North Dakota’s ongoing commitment to transparency and providing reliable financial information.”
Compiling the report requires several months of close cooperation and complex financial reporting from staff throughout state government. Fiscal teams—including auditors from the State Auditor’s Office who evaluate the data during assembly—collect, review, and integrate information from individual state agencies to ensure accuracy.
Morrissette expressed appreciation for the dedicated agency partners across North Dakota whose teamwork and expertise contributed to the award-winning document.