Transcript UW Platteville Presentation on Citizen Centric Reporting

Communicating Your
Agency Performance
through Citizen Centric
Reporting
Evie Barry
Director of Performance & Accountability
Reporting
AGA
[email protected]
1-703-684-6931, ext. 324
Association of Government
Accountants
• 15,000+ Members in 2011
• 43% are employed by state/local governments in
the area of accounting, auditing, budgeting,
investigations, finance, performance, grants
• Certification offered – Certified Government
Financial Manager (CGFM)
www.agacgfm.org/cgfm
AGA’s Mission
The Association of Government
Accountants serves government
accountability professionals by
providing quality education, fostering
professional development and
certification and supporting standards
and research to advance government
accountability.
S
Strategic Goals
Member Value
Thought Leadership
Empowerment
Certification – CGFM
Collaboration
S
Government Accountability
as defined by AGA:
“A government’s obligation to its people
for its actions and use of resources.”
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAMS
Citizen Centric Reporting
Certificate of Excellence in Accountability
Reporting
Certificate of Achievement in Service Efforts &
Accomplishments Reporting
Certificate of Excellence in
Accountability Reporting
Federal Agency Performance and
Accountability Reports are reviewed and
evaluated by AGA
Awards are given to those agencies whose
reports are deemed excellent
Certificate of Achievement in Service
Efforts and Accomplishments (SEA)
Program’s Mission: to stimulate and help state
and local governments prepare
comprehensive performance reports that
inform the public, elected officials and
management about their governments efficient
and effective use of taxpayer dollars.
Certificate of Excellence in Citizen
Centric Reporting
CCRs are:
Intended to foster innovative means of
communication between governments and
their citizenry
To make governments more accountable to
their citizens, and help Americans become
better educated and better able to participate
in government activities.
CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT
REPORTING
The Problem
Citizens Believe
AGA Survey (2008 and
• Entitled to
2010)
• Dissatisfied citizens
• Reporting too
technical
• Distrust in
government
transparent financial
information
• Governments have an
obligation to provide
this information
CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT
REPORTING
Conclusions
• 75% of Americans believe that the availability of
government financial management information is very
important
• Approximately 80-90% voted; 75% indicated that
financial management information was an important
factor in their vote
• Overspending and/or wasting money is top concern from
voters
PEW Survey (2010)
• 80% respondents in CA, IL, and NY distrusted their state
government
CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT
REPORTING
Commitment
• AGA is committed to increasing the levels of transparency
and accountability and driving understanding among the
general public.
• AGA recognizes that citizens have a right to an
understanding of how governments are spending their
money.
• AGA is dedicated to improving communication to the public
that is neither technical nor lengthy.
CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT
REPORTING
The Answer
• Citizen Centric
Reporting
• General Guidelines
• Short (four pages)
• Understandable
• Easy to read
• Informative
Constructing a Report – Page 1
What is the Government Chartered to do?
• Vision Statement
• Strategic Goals
• How the government is
organized
• Demographics
• Table of Contents
Page 1
Elements
 Table of Contents
 How entity is
organized/operates
 Key Accomplishments
 Organization Mission/Goals
Key Tips
 Reuse existing content
 Refer to existing sources
Constructing a Report – Page 2
Performance Information on Key Missions
and Service (cont’d)
CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT
REPORTING
Performance Measurement
“Public sector performance measurement
involves a systematic and continuous
assessment of how much and how well
services are delivered”
CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT
REPORTING
“Performance measurement is the promise
of efficiency, effectiveness and improved
performance, accountability and building
trust.”
Kathryn Kloby, ASPA 2006
CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT
REPORTING
Performance Measures should be:
1) Practically quantifiable
2) Based on data
3) Should indicate how much, how well,
and what level product/services are
provided
CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT
REPORTING
WHY PERFORMANCE MEASURES?
1) IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!
2) BUDGET DECISION
3) BETTER MANAGEMENT
CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT
REPORTING
GOOD PERFORMANCE MEASURES ARE:
– TIMELY
– UNDERSTANDABLE
– COMPARABLE
– COST EFFECTIVE
– RELEVANT
– RELIABLE
Page 2
Elements
 Selected performance
measures (from CAFR)
 Incorporates pictures and
other graphics
Key Tips
 Provide multi-year context
 Compare to similar cities
Constructing a Report – Page 3
Revenues and Expenditures
• Include revenue and
cost data for major
areas
• Use pie charts
• Reference audit
conducted
• Reference website
for detailed
financial
information
Page 3
Elements
 Free of technical language
 Charts to display revenues
and expenses
 Audit statement
 Location of complete
financial information
Key Tip
 Seven or fewer categories
on bar and/or pie charts
Constructing a Report – Page 4
Future Challenges and Economic Outlook
• Include items specific to the community that will have
future effects (economic changes, tax cuts or increases,
major new employer, employer leaving, unemployment,
technological improvements, infrastructure improvements,
education, environmental aspects, being transparent, etc)
• Ask for feedback by including a contact name and contact
information
Constructing a Report – Page 4
Future Challenges and Economic Outlook
(cont’d)
Page 4
Elements
 Future challenges
affecting the entity
 How to follow-up and
provide feedback
Key Tips
 Distribute report both
electronically and in print
 Issue in timely manner
Constructing A Report
Design Guidelines
•
Visual Appeal & Readability
•
Use of Pictures and
Graphics, Color
•
Ample White Space (not
text heavy
•
Free of technical jargon
•
Professional designer or
publishing software
Tools and Guidance Online
• Content Guidelines
• Design Guidelines
• Templates –
• Microsoft Publisher
• Microsoft Word
• In-Design
• Completed Reports
Best Practices in Developing a Report
Cut and paste effort from government’s website and published reports
Use AGA’s Content and Design Guideline Templates
Assign each page to a different individual and/or team
Look at completed reports for ideas
Remember that the readers are average citizens – come at it from their
perspective
Distribute the Report/Feedback
• Print in local newspaper
• Ask for feedback
• Post to website
• Web statistics
• Print bulk copies –
• Calls to office
libraries, grocery stores,
city hall
• Hold a press conference
• Governor’s office and
government officials
• Activist groups
• Mentions in the media
Completed Reports
AGA
City of NAPA, CA
Local Governments:
City of Palo Alto, CA
Beavercreek Township Fire Dept, OH
City of Portland, OR
Benton County Treasurer, WA
City of Portsmouth, VA
Blount County, TN
City of Saco, ME
City of Bellevue, WA
City of San Mateo, CA
City of Boise, ID
City of Scottsdale, AZ
City of Columbus, IN
City of Stamford, CT
City and County of Denver
City of Tallahassee, FL
City of Jefferson, MO
Cumberland County, PA
City of Kentwood, MI
District of Columbia
City of Lancaster, MA
Guilford County, NC
City of Las Vegas, NM
King County, WA
City of Lexington, KY
Maricopa County, AZ
Completed Reports
Local Governments (cont’d):
Educational Institutions:
Metro Govt of Nashville/Davidson
Cnty, TN
Evansville School District
Palm Beach County Tax Collector, FL
Springfield-Greene County Health Dept,
MO
Guam Community College
Guam Public School System
University of Guam
St Louis County, MN
The Village of Los Lunas, NM
Town of Sahuarita, AZ
AGA Chapters:
Aroostook County, ME
Greater Columbus, OH
Guam
Completed Reports (Cont’d)
State Governments:
Federal Government:
Idaho State Police
US Coast Guard
State of Idaho
Denali Commission
State of Maryland
General Services Administration
MA Developmental Disabilities Council
National Science Foundation
State of Nevada
The Architect of the Capitol
State of New York
Treasury Franchise Fund
State of Oregon
USAID
State of South Carolina
US Department of Defense
TN Comptroller of the Treasury
US Department of the Interior
State of Texas
State of Washington
Other:
State of Washington Audit
FMI Canada
Awards Program
 Certificate of Excellence in Citizen-Centric
Reporting (and Achievement Certificate)
Peer Reviewed
No Charge to Participate
AGA Online
www.agacgfm.org/citizen
[email protected]