Carlsbad has received binational recognition for its budgeting practices, the city announced Feb. 2.

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada awarded Carlsbad a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its fiscal year 2013-14 budget, highlighting the city’s commitment to meeting the highest standards of governmental budgeting, according tot he city’s statement.

“This award represents work completed by city staff in all departments as well as our city leadership,” Helga Stover, a city finance manager who is in charge of developing the annual budget, said in the announcement. “It is an honor to be recognized by such a prestigious organization for the work we do.”

The association also gave Carlsbad’s Finance Department a certificate of recognition for its lead role in preparing the annual budget.

Government agencies must satisfy a set of nationally recognized guidelines to qualify for the award, the city said. Those guidelines include the creation of a financial plan, a budget that serves as a policy document, an operations guide and a communication tool.

The Government Finance Officers Association is a professional organization that works with more than 18,000 appointed and elected local, state and provincial officials and other finance officials.