New to government? Our resources for newly elected officials offer some great guidance

This blog post was originally published in October 2023. We've recently updated some of the content and links to make them more relevant.

What’s new:

• Just 30 minutes can help you detect and prevent fraud in your government: This fall we published a new resource to help professional staff and elected leaders conduct a bank statement review. It is one of the most effective ways to identify potential misappropriation. There’s even a print-and-save standalone checklist. Make it part of your routine! Download it today: Follow the Money: A practical guide to reviewing government bank statements to stop fraud in its tracks (PDF)
  
  
• Consider signing up for a free cyber checkup: The cybersecurity landscape is constantly changing, but fundamental best practices remain. Let our cyber experts give your government a checkup to give you and your colleagues a sense of where things stand. Learn more and sign up today on our #BeCyberSmart webpage.

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Elected officials and members of appointed boards have a lot of responsibility when it comes to understanding their government’s operations. From compliance laws, to fraud prevention, to cybersecurity, there are numerous areas that require attention.

Our audit recommendations are meant to make government work better. Familiarizing yourself with your government’s audit reports and any findings or management letters will go a long way. In addition, our Center for Government Innovation provides access to the knowledge and resources local governments can use to help innovate and improve. The Center's resource library features a well-organized, updated compilation of free guides, checklists, best practices and tools to help governments help the people they serve.

Where to begin? Here are links to some of the key resources elected officials and board members – whether they are newly elected or just looking for a refresher – have found useful. 

• #Gov101 video series – This collection of short videos offers a great overview of different local governments in Washington, including who they are and what they do.
   
• Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) Guides – Here you’ll find an in-depth guidebook to the OPMA, enacted to make government business more open and accessible, along with related tips and checklists for ensuring compliance.
   
• Trust But Verify: A Guide for Elected Officials & Appointed Boards to Help Prevent Fraud (PDF, 1.9MB) – Appropriately titled, this resource includes tips for implementing policies and best practices that can help prevent, detect, and respond to fraud in local government.
   
• Leading The Way: Cybersecurity Considerations for Local Government Leadership (PDF, less than 1MB) – 
  Another well-titled guide, offering steps that leaders can take to set the tone and culture needed to establish, maintain and improve a government’s cybersecurity program.
   
• Financial Intelligence Tool (FIT) – Our award-winning tool includes a breakdown of publicly-available financial data for nearly 2,000 local governments, all within a user-friendly and customizable interface.
   
• In The Know with SAO e-newsletter – Sign up to receive our free e-newsletter that includes up-to-date audit news and information, important trainings and reminders for local governments, and more.

Have questions or need more information? Reach out to our Center for Government Innovation team by phone at 564-999-0818 or email at center@sao.wa.gov for help.