Center for Government Innovation

By the Center for Government Innovation

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Implementing effective internal financial policies can be challenging for local governments of any size, which is why the Performance Center teamed up with the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) to simplify the process.

By the Center for Government Innovation

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

The Budgeting, Accounting, and Reporting System (BARS) roundtables are underway in various locations all over the state. Discussion in these free three hour meetings presented by the State Auditor's Office, includes many topics such as: Information on changes to the BARS manual, a preview of requirements for upcoming GASB standards, demonstration of the Financial Analysis Tool (FIT), and discussion of other valuable resources and trainings free to local governments.

Understanding a government's financial health can be complex.

Accounting for capital assets is an area of difficulty for many governments. General purpose governments have been reporting infrastructure assets for more than a decade because of Governmental Accounting Standard's Board (GASB) Statement No. 34. This pronouncement required the reporting of many more assets than had been previously reported, including some with their own unique challenges such as roads.

(Repost from MRSC's blog. Original available here.)

By Toni Nelson, MRSC

The State Auditor's Office and the Department of Transportation (WSDOT) have been working together supported by the County Road Administration Board and the Washington State Association of Counties to eliminate duplicate reporting.