Ritenour Again Earns National Budget Award
The Ritenour School District has earned the prestigious Meritorious Budget Award for excellence in the preparation of its 2025-2026 annual budget. The district has received this award for 23 of the last 24 years.
While every school district has an annual budget to manage expenditures and revenue, the Meritorious Budget Award is only given to school districts that meet or exceed the award program criteria, after a rigorous review by professional auditors. The award is presented by the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International.
This national recognition celebrates the district’s commitment to clear, transparent, and high-quality budget presentation, reinforcing its dedication to responsible financial stewardship. ASBO International’s Meritorious Budget Award program sets the standard for excellence in school budget development and communication. Designed to help school business professionals enhance their financial planning skills, the program ensures that district budgets are not only comprehensive but also accessible and informative for stakeholders.
Dr. Phil Pusateri, Ritenour’s chief financial officer, said he is proud to collaborate with administrators and staff who consistently keep students at the center of every budget decision.
“Receiving this award for more than 20 years reflects Ritenour’s commitment to strong budgeting practices that connect financial planning with strategic goals, daily operations and our district’s mission to support students,” Pusateri said. “We take seriously our responsibility to be careful stewards of taxpayer dollars and the grant funding we receive, ensuring those resources support our students so that they graduate prepared for success in college, in the military or in the workforce.”