News Summary
The Costa Mesa Sanitary District has been recognized with three awards at the California Special Districts Association Annual Conference, highlighting its commitment to financial management and community service. For the 16th consecutive year, CMSD received the District of Distinction Award, alongside the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence. Finance Manager Kaitlin Tran was named Staff Member of the Year for her leadership and innovative contributions, including upgrading CMSD’s financial system. These accolades reaffirm CMSD’s dedication to fiscal responsibility and community engagement.
Costa Mesa, California – The Costa Mesa Sanitary District (CMSD) has received three prestigious awards for excellence in financial management and service at the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) Annual Conference held in Monterey. These honors demonstrate the district’s unwavering commitment to fiscal responsibility, transparency, and community service.
CMSD Board President Mike Scheafer accepted the District of Distinction Award, which acknowledges special districts that adhere to robust fiscal management policies and practices. This recognition marks the 16th consecutive year that CMSD has been honored as a District of Distinction, reflecting its dedication to maintaining clean financial audits and operating in a transparent, responsible manner.
Additionally, the district has earned the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence for an impressive 12 years in a row, further solidifying its reputation for openness and ethical governance. These accolades highlight CMSD’s ongoing efforts to serve its community while upholding the highest standards of financial management.
Another significant achievement during the conference was the recognition of Kaitlin Tran, CMSD’s Finance Manager, as the Staff Member of the Year. Tran was honored for her leadership, innovation, volunteerism, and her strict adherence to governmental accounting standards. Under her management, CMSD has also received the Triple Crown Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for three consecutive years. This coveted recognition is awarded to agencies that achieve GFOA’s three top honors in the same year: the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, and the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award.
In addition to these awards, Kaitlin Tran has been instrumental in upgrading CMSD’s financial system to a contemporary cloud platform, enhancing operational efficiency. Tran’s active involvement in community events like Concerts in the Park and Eco Expo illustrates her commitment not only to financial excellence but also to engaging with constituents and raising awareness about CMSD’s services.
The awards presented to CMSD emphasize the district’s dedication to providing top-notch services to Costa Mesa residents. President Scheafer expressed pride in the accomplishments, acknowledging that the recognitions reflect the hard work and commitment of CMSD’s employees.
The Costa Mesa Sanitary District operates with a philosophy centered around transparency, innovative financial practices, and accountability to its constituents. The awards from the CSDA reinforce the district’s pledge to maintain high-quality services and complete openness in its operational practices.
For over a decade, CMSD has set a standard for other districts by demonstrating fiscal integrity and commitment to public service. Moving forward, the district aims to build on this foundation, ensuring that it continues to meet the needs of the community it serves while embracing responsible financial management and governance.
These accolades contribute to CMSD’s long-term mission of promoting environmentally sustainable practices and providing efficient waste management services that ensure a clean and healthy environment for all residents in Costa Mesa.
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Additional Resources
- Public CEO: CMSD Honored with Three Prestigious Awards
- Wikipedia: Sanitary District
- Los Angeles Times: Longtime Civic Leader Former Mayor Arlene Schafer
- Google Search: Arlene Schafer
- Patch: Waters at 2 Orange County Beaches Closed Due to Sewage Spill
- Google Scholar: Sewage Spill
- LAist: 4,000-Gallon Sewage Spill Shuts Down Portions of Beaches
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Sewage
- OC Register: Adam C. Ereth – Costa Mesa City Council Candidate
- Google News: Costa Mesa
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA WRITER
COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
