For the third year in a row, the Westerville City School District earned the Auditor of State Award with Distinction.

State Auditor Dave Yost stopped by the district office Sept. 22 to present the award, which recognizes the audit for July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014.

According to Yost’s office, the award recognizes local governments, school districts and other public entities that have a “clean” audit report, meaning it was filed on time and there are no findings for recovery, material citations or weaknesses, significant deficiencies, single audit findings or questioned costs, among other issues.

District Treasurer Bart Griffith said his department could not take all the credit for the award.

“Anyone in the district who handles money played a role in helping us earn this award,” Griffith said.

“They follow the procedures we have in place and handle the money correctly,” he said. “We couldn’t do it without them. We have a great staff who really care about what they do.”

He noted the treasurer’s staff does a good job working with all the other staffs that handle money.

“They are the ones who bring it all together,” Griffith said.

“They pay all the bills, process the purchase orders, keep track of all the records,” he said.

“Without everyone doing their part — secretaries, food service, athletics and everyone else that works with the business side of the school district — this award would not be possible,” said Greg Viebranz, the district’s executive director of communications and technology.

“Good finance is important to everything government does,” Yost said in a release.

“We can’t expect sound budgetary decisions by the board and superintendent unless the books are clean and accurate,” he said. “It is with great pleasure that I present the district with the Auditor of State Award with Distinction.”

Griffith said he aims to earn the award again next year.