Citrus County Wins 17 National Awards for Programs

Citrus County received 17 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties, recognizing programs across county departments that improve services for residents.

The county has earned 41 NACo awards in the past three years.

Animal Services partnered with Crystal River High School to train students as veterinary assistants. Fire Rescue installed 19 public naloxone distribution boxes and hired a clinical social worker to support firefighters after critical incidents.

Fleet Management won three awards for controlling costs through local vendor purchasing, fuel accountability measures, and a vehicle replacement program based on ownership costs. Libraries earned three awards for a monthly reading program, homebound delivery service, and family programs leading to the Citrus County Comics and Cosplay Convention.

Other recognized initiatives include Aquatic Services' pool vegetation removal project, Growth Management's permitting software, Parks and Recreation's summer camps and women's fishing workshop, Technical Services' pavement management system, and Discover Crystal River's manatee tour operator certification program.

The National Association of Counties has given Achievement Awards since 1970. Programs compete across 18 categories aligned with county services.