Local governments

Strengthening your government's guard against the threats that compromised passwords pose is a necessary control for decreasing the risk of unauthorized users gaining access to your computers, network or database. In this post, we explain how passwords get compromised and how multi-factor authentication (MFA) can help governments improve their account security to better protect their systems.

How passwords get compromised

With new annual report filings from nearly 200 governments across the state since June 30, we're excited to share our first quarterly update of the 2020 fiscal year financial data in the Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT).

This is the fourth article of our seven-part K&P leadership series. Missed the previous article on challenging the process? Read it here.

Smaller governments frequently procure goods and services without a procurement manager. While smaller governments can get by without designated procurement managers for their daily operations, they occasionally take on larger projects like new building construction that can strain their limited resources. The burden of managing these projects often falls to managers who have several other duties or lack procurement expertise. Whether you have small or large procurements, here are five survival tips to help you navigate the procurement process:

Looking for a way to improve your game when it comes to cash receipting internal controls? Add the double count to your arsenal. The double count is as easy as the name suggestions: money should never transfer from one employee to another without being counted and documented first.

Though it's simple, the double count is a necessary addition to your internal control processes for minimizing the risk of loss . Let's walk through a few scenarios to illustrate the concept and its importance.

Scenario 1: Fundraising in a school

This is the third article of our seven-part K&P leadership series. Missed the previous article on inspiring a shared vision? Read it here.

The Center for Government Innovation, a service of the Office of the Washington State Auditor, has been working hard to provide local governments the tools they need.

Just released: Payroll Guide and Internal Controls Checklist

This new Payroll Guide includes a suite of short, one-to-two-page resources for different roles and topics. This guide has something for you, whether you are:

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) established the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CSLFRF) program, administered by the U.S. Treasury, Assistance Listing Number 21.027. One eligible use of these program funds allows governments to replace lost revenue in order to avoid cuts in their services.

This is the second article of our seven-part K&P leadership series. Missed the introductory article? Read it here.

Updated: Sep 9, 2021

Hello, #WFOA21! We are happy to see you again this year, even virtually. Since we saw you last, SAO has worked diligently to create valuable tips, training and resources to help you stay rooted in #GoodGovernment. This year, we have sessions on keeping your internal controls strong in a remote work environment, navigating a federal single audit (especially if it is your first time), and working with SAO when you suspect a loss of public resources. We hope you'll attend our sessions to learn more.