SUFFOLK CITED FOR NATIONAL ACCOUNTING AWARD 

Hauppauge, NY -   Suffolk Comptroller Joseph Sawicki, Jr. announced today that Suffolk County
has been awarded the “Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting”
by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for
its 2008 Annual Financial Report.  According to a statement from the GFOA, this represents the
“highest form of recognition in the area of government accounting and financial reporting, and its
attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.”
 
 Said Comptroller Sawicki, “I am very pleased to receive this national award.  This accomplishment
speaks highly of our financial reporting and sends a strong message to Wall Street and financial
institutions across the nation that our accounting practices are ranked #1.”  Sawicki noted how
proud he was of the accounting department for their dedication to accurately reporting the
County’s finances.

According to the GFOA, Suffolk’s 2008 financial statements were judged by an impartial panel
to meet the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full
disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups
to read them.  “National recognition like this earns us the confidence of Wall Street Bond Rating
agencies which allows our county to borrow at lower interest rates,” Sawicki explained.

This award makes the 26th consecutive year that the Comptroller’s office has earned such
national distinction.

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 16,000 government
finance professions with offices in Chicago, IL and Washington, D.C.