Prestigious accounting organization presents award to the Town of White Castle

The Town of White Castle was recently awarded a Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting (CAFR) by the Government Finance Officers Association.

“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 government and its management,” the organization’s acting director, Todd Buikema.

“The CAFR has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive ‘spirit of full disclosure’ to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential and user groups to read the CAFR,” he continued in his prepared statement.

“I’m grateful for the Town of White Castle having been recognized,” said Mayor Gerald Williams. “I’m grateful for all that we’ve been able to accomplish.”

“When I received it, I was relieved and I thanked God for the award,” he continued. “I’m just so grateful that we were given this honor.”

Williams used the opportunity to talk about a long list of recent accomplishments either completed or about to begin in the Town of White Castle.

Several projects are underway now, including the second phase of its nearly complete water park, the nearing of the finish of the town’s outdoor community center, which will include a walk-through museum of the history of the town and a lighting project.

“We’re moving forward and that’s a good thing,” said Williams, who is in the third year of his second term. “We’re also in the process of making a lot of strides demolishing the town’s derelict homes.”

“We’re trying to clear up the city and general and put it back in better shape like it was,” he continued. “Everything is starting to come together.”

“From where we are today to where we were, I think we’ve made a lot of progress, made some huge strides,” Williams said.

He said he and the members of the Town Council were “pushing hard” to get two new projects going in 2018, a new building for the town’s Council on Aging and a bike trail on the Mississippi River levee.

“It’s amazing that we’ve got so much going on in this next year,” Williams said.