Governor’s Grants Conference 2011 Performance Measurement Communicating Your Agency Performance...

Governor’s Grants Conference 2011

Performance Measurement

Communicating Your Agency Performance through Citizen-Centric Reporting

Presentation by Evie Barry, Association of Government Accountants

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

http://www.agacgfm.org/cgfm

AGA’s MissionThe 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 ValueThought Leadership

EmpowermentCertification – CGFM

Collaboration

S

Government Accountability as defined by AGA:

“A government’s obligation to its people for its actions and use of resources.”

THOUGHT LEADERSHIPACCOUNTABILITY 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

AGA Survey (2008

and 2010)

• Dissatisfied

citizens

• Reporting too

technical

• Distrust in

government

• Entitled to

transparent

financial

information

• Governments have

an obligation to

provide this

information

The Problem Citizens

Believe


• 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

Conclusions


• 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.

Commitment


• Citizen Centric

Reporting

• General Guidelines

• Short (four pages)

• Understandable

• Easy to read

• Informative

The

Answer

Constructing a Report – Page 1

• Vision Statement• Strategic Goals

• How the government is organized

• Demographics

• Table of Contents

What is the Government Chartered to do?

ElementsTable of ContentsHow entity is organized/operatesKey AccomplishmentsOrganization Mission/Goals

Key TipsReuse existing contentRefer to existing sources


Performance Information on Key Missions and Service (cont’d)


Performance Measurement

“Public sector performance

measurement involves a systematic

and continuous assessment of how

much and how well services are

delivered”


“Performance measurement is the

promise of efficiency, effectiveness

and improved performance,

accountability and building trust.”Kathryn Kloby, ASPA 2006


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


WHY PERFORMANCE

MEASURES?

1)IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO

DO!

2)BUDGET DECISION

3)BETTER MANAGEMENT


GOOD PERFORMANCE MEASURES ARE:

– TIMELY– UNDERSTANDABLE– COMPARABLE– COST EFFECTIVE– RELEVANT– RELIABLE

Elements Selected performance

measures (from CAFR) Incorporates pictures and

other graphics

Key Tips Provide multi-year

context Compare to similar cities


• Include revenue and cost data for major areas

• Use pie charts

• Reference audit conducted

• Reference website for detailed financial information

Revenues and Expenditures

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


• 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

Future Challenges and Economic Outlook


Future Challenges and Economic Outlook (cont’d)

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

• Visual Appeal & Readability

• Use of Pictures and Graphics, Color

• Ample White Space (not

text heavy

• Free of technical jargon

• Professional designer or publishing software

Design

Guidelines

Tools and Guidance Online

• Content Guidelines

• Design Guidelines

• Templates –

• Microsoft Publisher

• Microsoft Word

• In-Design

• Completed Reports

Best Practices in Developing a Report

Distribute the Report/Feedback

• Print in local

newspaper

• Post to website

• Print bulk copies –

libraries, grocery

stores, city hall

• Hold a press

conference

• Governor’s office and

government officials

• Activist groups

• Ask for feedback

• Web statistics

• Calls to office

• Mentions in the media

Completed ReportsAGA

Local Governments:

Beavercreek Township Fire Dept, OH

Benton County Treasurer, WA

Blount County, TN

City of Bellevue, WA

City of Boise, ID

City of Columbus, IN

City and County of Denver

City of Jefferson, MO

City of Kentwood, MI

City of Lancaster, MA

City of Las Vegas, NM

City of Lexington, KY

City of NAPA, CA

City of Palo Alto, CA

City of Portland, OR

City of Portsmouth, VA

City of Saco, ME

City of San Mateo, CA

City of Scottsdale, AZ

City of Stamford, CT

City of Tallahassee, FL

Cumberland County, PA

District of Columbia

Guilford County, NC

King County, WA

Maricopa County, AZ

Completed ReportsLocal Governments (cont’d):

Metro Govt of Nashville/Davidson Cnty, TN

Palm Beach County Tax Collector, FL

Springfield-Greene County Health Dept, MO

St Louis County, MN

The Village of Los Lunas, NM

Town of Sahuarita, AZ

Educational Institutions:

Evansville School District

Guam Community College

Guam Public School System

University of Guam

AGA Chapters:

Aroostook County, ME

Greater Columbus, OH

Guam

Completed Reports (Cont’d)State Governments:

Idaho State Police

State of Idaho

State of Maryland

MA Developmental Disabilities Council

State of Nevada

State of New York

State of Oregon

State of South Carolina

TN Comptroller of the Treasury

State of Texas

State of Washington

State of Washington Audit

Federal Government:

US Coast Guard

Denali Commission

General Services Administration

National Science Foundation

The Architect of the Capitol

Treasury Franchise Fund

USAID

US Department of Defense

US Department of the Interior

Other:

FMI Canada

Awards Program

Certificate of Excellence in Citizen-Centric Reporting (and Achievement Certificate)

Peer Reviewed

No Charge to Participate

AGA Online

Evie BarryDirector of Performance & Accountability Reporting

AGA

[email protected]

www.agacgfm.org/citizen

http://www.agacgfm.org/citizen

Governor’s Grants Conference 2011 Performance Measurement Communicating Your Agency Performance...

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