“Yelm Finance Director Earns Certified Government Financial Manager Designation”

• Editor’s note: Congratulations to Finance Director Joe Wolfe for being designated a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) by the Association of Government Accountants (AGA). The City of Yelm has finally hired and invested in someone that will adhere to a Code of Ethics in financial reporting. Yelm’s unsavory state audits for almost a decade have required someone of Joe’s caliber to bring the city up-to-speed with proper internal controls and ethical oversight, where some of his predecessors were milquetoast to their mayors’ demands. Dir. Wolfe’s expertise in fiscal responsibility is going to be put to the test as this city has the “petal to the metal” on spending, as one councilor’s concerns were recently expressed. And Councilor DePinto was the lone “nay” vote authorizing the splash park because of a lack of knowledge regarding overall costs to the city. To authorize this project without having a full expense estimate is not responsible, as the council should have learned from the same scenario in building the Community Center. Yet the city’s spending binge is occurring as the nation’s economy is slowing faster than expected. Not wise! My hope is that Director Wolfe’s certification brings much needed fiscal responsibility.

“The City of Yelm is proud to announce that City Finance Director, Joe Wolfe has been granted the designation of Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) by the Association of Government Accounts (sic) (AGA).

“‘It’s important for the City to demonstrate competence and assure that our public funds are used efficiently and effectively,’ Wolfe said. ‘The CGFM certification displays the City’s commitment to stewardship of public funds.’

“The CGFM certification was specifically designed to meet the critical need for an increased emphasis on the professional qualifications and stature of government financial managers. This acknowledges Wolfe’s unique skills and special knowledge of accounting, auditing, financial reporting, internal controls and budgeting at the federal, state and local levels which is required of today’s government financial managers.

“In addition to meeting the program’s education, examination and experience requirements, those awarded the designation agree to abide by AGA’s Code of Ethics and complete at least 80 hours of continuing professional education in government financial management topics or related technical subjects every two years.

“‘This is another example of our culture of ongoing training and improvement at City Hall,’ City Administrator Michael Grayum said. ‘This award validates and recognizes the hard work and commitment we, as a municipality, have made to ensure that the City is running efficiently and effectively,'” quoting the City of Yelm.