AGA - National Performance Management Conference

8:30 - 9:15 a.m.
M100: GASB’s New SEA Performance Project: An Update

Robert H. Attmore, CGFM, CPA, Chairman, Governmental Accounting Standards Board

In April, GASB announced that it added the Service Efforts and Accomplishments (SEA) Reporting project to its current technical agenda. But what does this mean to governments and other constituents? For more than 20 years, GASB research has shown that SEA reporting will help governments better communicate to constituents about the results or outcomes they achieve in pursuit of public policy goals. Nonetheless there remains misunderstanding and controversy as GASB moves to help government officials voluntarily provide decision-useful information regarding how the government is actually performing. What is the problem?

Wilson S. Campbell, CGFM, Project Manager, GASB

James R. Fountain Jr., CGFM, CPA, Consultant, Governmental Accounting Standards Board

The project that the GASB has just added to its agenda has two parts. One part will update portions of GASB Concepts Statement 2, Service Efforts and Accomplishments Reporting, based on what has been learned from the GASB’s research and other developments during the past 13 years since it was published. The other part of the project will explore how principles-based suggested guidelines for voluntary reporting of performance information might be established. This session will highlight important aspects of the project as well as opportunities for public input and feedback.

Michael B. Marsh, MBA, Deputy Director, Department of Transportation, State of Oregon

Michael Jacobson, Performance Management Director, Office of Executive Director, King County, WA

Want to improve your government's performance reporting? Want to learn from the "best of the best" about their experiences in preparing a report. You will have the opportunity to hear from both a state agency and local government representative as they explain their process for preparing an award winning report. Whether you have prepared a performance report in the past or just getting started, this session is for you!

Patricia Keehley, Ph.D, Assistant Professor, Director of MPA, Southern Utah University

If you’re struggling to define or accomplish long term goals this is the session for you. The basics of how to organize and launch a strategic planning process will be presented through a series of interactive events that illustrate strategic planning concepts. Worksheets will be provided to ensure participants are fully prepared to apply the tools and techniques when they return to the workplace.

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
M104: Staying the Course: The Use of Performance Management in State Government

Katherine G. Willoughby, Ph.D, Public Administration, Professor, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University

How is performance management and measurement being used at the state level? Have budgeting systems evolved to now incorporate measurement of program activities and results? What components of performance measurement and performance related initiatives have been the most useful in the states? Learn how states are redeveloping their performance systems for broader and better applicability. Is your government ready to incorporate strategic planning and performance management initiatives?

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
M105: Using Benchmarking to Make Governments More Efficient

Michael Lawson. Director, Center for Performance Management, International City/County Management Association

D. Clark Partridge, CGFM, State Comptroller, Department of Administration, General Accounting Office, State of Arizona

Performance measurement is most often viewed in terms of accountability and transparency. But an effective performance measurement program fosters positive changes in terms of organizational culture. Leadership is key to making performance reporting a useful tool for governments while using comparable data to drive change in service delivery, management and resource allocation. This session will focus on a national benchmarking project and how leadership is the driver to facilitate change.

Michael Jacobson, Performance Management Director, Office of Executive Director, King County, WA

Lauri Wingenroth, CPA, Deputy Budget and Research Director, Budget and Research Department, City of Phoenix, AZ

What is the greatest challenge to making performance management a true management tool, rather than an after-the-fact reporting commitment? Tying budget allocations to results delivered! But, as we all know, that solution is easy to say, but much harder to do. During this session, you will hear about global research conducted by Accenture about how governments are dealing with the challenges of using performance management, where the ‘frontier’ of the practice is, and then you will hear three specific case studies of how governments are using performance management in their budgeting and planning activities. You will want to hear and participate in this discussion to learn practical ‘how-to’ tools that other governments are using that may be applicable to your organization.

4 - 5 p.m.
M107: Using Performance Measures to Fulfill the Oversight Responsibility

Stevan Gorcester, Executive Director, Transportation Improvement Board, State of Washington

Mark Miloscia, State Representative, House of Representatives, State of Washington

The Washington Transpiration Improvement Board is a unique agency that tracks transportation projects using a performance dashboard. The Legislature is also very active in monitoring its results. The speakers will present a live demonstration via the Internet to illustrate its effectiveness and its ability to highlight data in real time.

David Amari, MPA, Quality Management System Coordinator, Police Department, City of Phoenix, AZ

David Amari will explain how the Phoenix Police Department semiannually conducts a resident attitude survey to determine areas of excellence and opportunities for improvement. The value of this information cannot be understated in its usefulness in creating the Department’s strategic and tactical policing plan. This planning effort is conducted in shorter two-year cycles to enable enhanced responsiveness to ever-changing community service needs. This presentation will be given in conjunction with Mr. Richard Siegel, Performance and Outreach Coordinator for the City of Bellevue, Washington.

8 - 9 a.m.
T100: Measuring for Results – Successful Practices in Phoenix

Frank Fairbanks, City Manager, City of Phoenix, AZ

The City Manager of Phoenix will provide an overview of the City including some unique dynamics and challenges the City is facing. This discussion will include a summary on the history of performance measurements within the City but will focus on the new efforts to Renew Phoenix.

9 - 10 a.m.
T101: Lessons Learned from Developing the Nation's Largest Performance Management System

Since 2000, Standard & Poor's (S&P) has developed and managed state and national education (K-12) performance measurement systems. Attendees will be introduced to SchoolMatters.com the nation's largest and free performance measurement website. In addition, S&P will discuss the lessons learned (e.g. data, ratios, reporting) as attendees look to improve or develop their own performance management systems.

What's the role for measurement experts and auditors as performance data is collected and reported? Whose responsibility is the accuracy of data? You'll hear from two different viewpoints (City of Portland and Maricopa County) on this critical issue. Important topics include (1) the role of auditors in assessing reliability, and auditors' relationship to management, (2) the role of management in preparing and reporting performance data, and (3) where the "buck stops", and how Portland and Maricopa County are using their different strategies to reach the same ends -- reliably reported performance data. If you manage, audit, or report performance data, you won't want to miss this session!

10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
T103: Getting Performance Information to the Community: Suggested Practices

Lauren Palmer, MPA, Management Analyst, City Manager’s Office, City of Des Moines, IA

Kristina Rietmann, GMAP Communications Manager, Governor’s Office, State of Washington

Key to accountability is connecting progress and results back to communities and citizens. How can you inform citizens about the work you do and progress made without inundating them with facts and figures? The purpose of this session is to highlight several strategies you can use for clearly communicating results to the communities you impact and working with local media. Likewise, this session will also touch upon some strategies for engaging citizens in the performance process. What results are citizens interested in and how can you engage them to continuously improve your performance management program?

Lori Garvey, Director of Finance, Creighton Elementary School District

Sharron E. Walker, CPA, CFE, Director, School Audits, Office of the Auditor General, State of Arizona

This session will describe how the Arizona Auditor General's office uses national, state, and comparison district data to measure performance of an audited school district's operations and make recommendations for efficiency and cost-effectiveness gains. Additionally, an Arizona school district official will share how her district is using performance measures to improve its operations.

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
T105: Using Performance Measures to Improve Management

Anthony Longo, Deputy Director, Mayor's Office of Operations, City of New York, NY

Performance measures can be a very effective tool for learning whether programs are providing desired results. Learn how others have used the information to know when and how to modify the delivery system and meet the taxpayers' expectations.

Jonathan Walters, Staff Correspondent, Governing Magazine, Author, Measuring Up

Jonathan Walters is back to entertain us about performance management in the public sector and to share his lessons learned as he updated his book, Measuring Up 2.0. Real world examples and lessons learned will be the focus of Jonathan's presentation as he shares highlights from his new book.

Janet Woolum, Managing for Results Analyst, Maricopa County, AZ

AGA is spearheading an effort to make financial reporting understandable and accessible to all citizens. Because current financial reports are too complicated for the average citizen, AGA is encouraging governments to produce four-page reports to simply explain how governments are spending taxpayers’ money, how government performance is measured as well as demographics and future challenges--that answer the question, “Are we better off today than we were last year?” The Citizen-Centric Reporting Initiative has become one of AGA’s hallmark programs. Hear what tools are available from AGA to produce such a report and hear from two governments who have recently published reports.

2 - 3 p.m.
T108: AGA's Successful Award Criteria: Tips for Successful Implementation

Harold I. Steinberg, CGFM, CPA, Technical Consultant, Certificate of Achievement in SEA Reporting Program, AGA

AGA's Certificate of Excellence in Service Efforts and Accomplishments Reporting provides public recognition for governments that issue top-quality reports to their citizens to demonstrate accountability. Learn how to improve the effectiveness of these reports by applying GASB's suggested criteria for reporting performance information.

Carol McFarland, CGFM, CPAS, Performance Measurement Manager, Oklahoma Health Care Authority

AGA has been operating the Certificate of Excellence in Service Efforts and Accomplishments Reporting program for four years. We have learned a lot, but learning never ends. Don't miss this opportunity to give suggestions on how AGA's program can provide you and your government with maximum benefits.

Harold I. Steinberg, CGFM, CPA, Technical Consultant, Certificate of Achievement in SEA Reporting Program, AGA

Join us Wednesday morning for insight into how the use of the GASB suggested criteria are evaluated in Service Efforts and Accomplishments Reports. You will leave with a clear understanding of how to improve your and other state and local governments' performance reports.

Agenda/Education Sessions

MONDAY, SEPT. 24