The Costa Mesa Sanitary District (CMSD) was recognized with three major honors at the California Special Districts Association (CSDA) Annual Conference in Monterey, California. These awards highlight CMSD’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, transparency, and community service.
CMSD Board President Mike Scheafer accepted the District of Distinction Award on behalf of CMSD, an award that recognizes special districts that uphold strong fiscal management policies and practices. CMSD continues to maintain clean financial audits and a longstanding reputation for operating in a fiscally responsible and transparent manner.
President Scheafer also accepted the District Transparency Certificate of Excellence, which reaffirms CMSD’s dedication to openness and ethical governance. This marks the 16th consecutive year CMSD has been recognized as a District of Distinction and the 12th consecutive year earning the Transparency Certificate of Excellence.
In addition, Kaitlin Tran, CMSD’s Finance Manager, was named Staff Member of the Year for her leadership, innovation, volunteerism, and strict adherence to governmental accounting standards. Under Ms. Tran’s leadership, CMSD has earned the Triple Crown Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for three consecutive years. This prestigious award is presented only to agencies that achieve GFOA’s three top honors within the same year: the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, and the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award.
Ms. Tran has also spearheaded significant advancements at CMSD, including successfully upgrading CMSD’s financial system to a modern cloud platform. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she actively represents CMSD at community events such as Concerts in the Park and Eco Expo.
“We are honored to receive these recognitions,” said President Scheafer. “They are a testament to the hard work and dedication of CMSD’s employees, and we are truly grateful for their service to the District and the community.”