Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 is proud to announce that it has earned the prestigious Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) for the 2025-26 fiscal year. This recognition celebrates the district’s commitment to a clear, transparent, and high-quality budget presentation and its dedication to responsible financial management.
ASBO’s Meritorious Budget Award program sets the standard for excellence in school budget development and communication, and this year’s recognition marks the 12th District 123 budget submission to receive the award.
“Our School District 123 Strategic Plan holds us accountable to the community for the responsible use of community resources and fiscal transparency. This award reflects District 123’s commitment to sound fiscal management and budgetary policy. Our Chief School Business Official, Dr. Mike Loftin and our business office staff work hard to prepare comprehensive and clear budgetary reports for our community, and I appreciate their high standards and on-going effort. We are very proud of this accomplishment and will continue to provide the community this level of transparency,” -Dr. Paul Enderle, Superintendent
To achieve this distinction, school districts submit their budget documents for a rigorous peer review process conducted by experienced school finance professionals.
“The MBA review process provides the district with feedback in creating a comprehensive financial projection that is improved every year. This provides our community a budget document that is transparent and communicates to all District 123 stakeholders the financial path of the district. The document explains both the why and the how of our school district’s finances.” -Dr. Michael Loftin, Assistant Superintendent for Business at District 123.
Each submission is carefully evaluated against ASBO International’s MBA Criteria Checklist, and districts receive valuable feedback to refine and strengthen their budget presentations. The criteria stress the budget as a communication tool for all stakeholders, with both high-level information being provided, all the way down to the finer details broken out by individual funds.
“An effective school budget is more than just numbers — it’s a vital tool for building trust and engaging the community,” said Jim Rowan, CAE, SFO, Executive Director of ASBO International. “The Meritorious Budget Award recognizes districts like Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 that prioritize financial clarity and accountability. We commend their dedication to upholding nationally recognized budget presentation standards.”