Jeremy Henderson, City of Centralia Finance Director, being sworn in as City Treasurer in 2025.
At the Monday, October 26, City Council meeting, Mayor Bryan Kuder announced and displayed the Triple Crown Award received by the City of Centralia.
The City of Centralia has officially earned the prestigious Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Triple Crown Award, marking a milestone in the city’s commitment to fiscal transparency, accountability, and responsible financial stewardship.
"I am extremely proud of the City of Centralia Finance Dept, as well as all city officials and dept heads, for being good stewards of the City's finances. Winning the Triple Crown Award confirms that the City of Centralia is working hard to do the best with what we have, for our community,” said Galen Mahle, city manager.
The Triple Crown is a rare distinction, awarded to just 441 government entities across the United States and Canada for fiscal year 2024. Out of thousands of local governments in Illinois, the City of Centralia is one of only 46 to receive the honor. Notably, the City of Centralia is the southernmost governmental agency in Illinois to ever receive the Triple Crown, capturing a distinction previously held by the City of Moline.
To secure the Triple Crown, a municipality must simultaneously earn all three of GFOA’s highly demanding financial reporting and budget honors within a single fiscal year:
The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award - Recognizing excellence in financial planning and budget communication.
The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting - Honoring transparency and completeness in the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
The Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award - Celebrating user-friendly, accessible financial reporting designed specifically for everyday residents.
The city has successfully captured the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for three consecutive years (2024, 2025, and 2026).
The City has submitted its 2025 audit and Popular Annual Financial Report to the GFOA, with both currently being under review.