Highlights
AGA Offers Federal Performance Conference
AGA has added a new conference to its national education program this year in response to the Obama administration's unprecedented emphasis on transparency and accountability in federal government operations.
AGA's first Federal Performance Conference is designed to answer calls for help on this important issue. It is scheduled for April 27 |28 at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C.
AGA has lined up leaders in federal financial management and performance to describe their challenges in producing performance reports and how are they are overcoming them. Learn firsthand from the federal agencies that are successfully using performance measures to manage the delivery of services; agency staff who are creating dashboards and portals to communicate useful information; and public officials who will share their approach to producing quality performance data. Also learn the latest news on changing regulations.
Speakers representing the Performance Improvement Council, Office of Management and Budget and numerous federal agencies are scheduled to attend the conference, which offers 10 CPE hours in addition to networking events. Exchange ideas with the best in the business, make new contacts and perhaps even find a solution to a vexing problem. Select exhibitors will demonstrate the latest technologies to help your agency plan and prepare for the federal reporting requirements for 2011.
A limited number of sponsorships are available, and some space is available for exhibitors.
For more information contact Evie Barry or Ada Phillips.
Register today.
Upcoming Audio Conferences
March 24: Suggested Guidelines for Voluntary Reporting—SEA Performance Information
April 21: The Latest Tools and Techniques for Auditors
May 19: Those Faint Signals: Learning to Catch Ethical Slippage Before It's Too Late
Entire 2010 Audio Conference Schedule
AGA Advertising Opportunities!
Advertise in AGA's electronic newsletters—TOPICS and AGA Today! Get maximum exposure and build your brand. Find out what's available in an upcoming issue. Click here for all the information you need to run your ad. Or, you can contact April Pardoe.
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March 8, 2010 • News from the Profession
AGA Today is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner Clifton Gunderson
 Clifton Gunderson, ranked as one of the nationfs largest certified public accounting and consulting firms, is a leader in providing assurance, risk management, IT security, financial accounting and management, and management advisory services for federal, state and local government agencies. Visit our website at www.cliftoncpa.com for more information.
Point of Contact:
William H. Oliver, CGFM, CPA, CFE
301-931-2050
William.Oliver@cliftoncpa.com
State and Local News
Nothing but the Facts, Ma'am
Communicating the business of government to the public has never been easy. This is particularly true of financial information, traditionally communicated in an accountingese as dense and opaque as legalese. That's great for accountants, but not so much for average Texas taxpayers who want to know, simply and clearly, how their money is being allocated and spent. AGA's Citizen-Centric Reporting Initiative seeks to remedy that situation and make it easier for citizens to review their governmentfs finances. gWe realized that audited financial statements concerning government finances meant little or nothing to the average citizen," says AGA Executive Director Relmond Van Daniker."
It seemed only right that citizens in a democracy should have more clear and straightforward information available to them on government spending. Citizen-centric reports are intended to allow citizens to become more politically engaged and active.
-Jerell Lambert, Statewise newsletter, from Susan Combs, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Read more.
Do You Want a Tax With That?
The funeral home director in Pennsylvania and hair dresser in Michigan may soon have something in common with the yoga instructor in Missouri and limo driver in New York. Their customers may have to pay a state sales tax. With tax revenues at a historic low and federal stimulus dollars drying up, states are eyeing adding a sales tax to some of the 180 services that states could be taxing but most don't, ranging from pet grooming and dating services to dental and legal services. The change would be a fundamental shift in statesf tax systems, but the proposals are running into stiff opposition from the business community.
- Pamela M. Prah, Stateline.org. Read more.
AGA Today is Brought to You by Federal Management Systems
 Federal Management Systems, Inc. provides the highest level of expertise, and dedicated Professional, Accounting, Financial, Asset, and Debt Management Services, to federal, state, local, and international government clients.
Call George Stephenson at 202-842-3003 to see how we can assist you in managing your resources.
Federal News
'Burrowing In' Increased Slightly Under Bush, Report Shows
A new report suggests that the Bush administration moved slightly more political appointees into career federal jobs than the Clinton administration. Those numbers have reopened a perennial debate about whether such conversions are necessarily a bad thing. The Government Accountability Office found that between May 1, 2005, and May 30, 2009, 143 political appointees and congressional employees moved into career civil service positions\a practice known as burrowing in\at 26 departments and agencies. Another 16 departments and agencies did not fill any civil service openings with political appointees during that period. The Justice Department made the most conversions, turning 32 political appointees into civil servants. The Homeland Security Department followed with 18, and the Defense Department had 13.
-Alyssa Rosenberg, Government Executive. Read more.
New Studies Reinforce Dire Outlook for U.S. Postal Service
The U.S. Postal Service is on pace to lose $238 billion over the next 10 years, with annual deficits hitting $33 billion by 2020
(five times the current level) according to two new studies released today. One report, from the Boston Consulting Group, projected mail volumes will drop substantially over the next decade. Standard Mail volume, advertising mail, is expected to remain nearly flat, growing from roughly 83 billion pieces to 86 billion. But First-Class Mail volume will plummet, according to the study, from 84 billion pieces today to 53 billion next year\a 37 percent drop. First-Class Mail is the Postal Service's most profitable class of mail, so that declining volume will push the Postal Service deep into the red, according to the second study, from McKinsey & Co. It will cause a significant decline in the Postal Service's revenue per household\an important financial metric for the agency. The Postal Service generated roughly $1.80 in daily revenue per household in 2000; that figure has already dropped to $1.40, and Boston's study projects it will fall further, to $1 per household, by 2020.
-Gregg Carlstrom, Federal Times. Read more.
Private Sector News
CPA Executives Pessimistic About Economic Outlook
Expectations among Certified Public Accountant executives for the U.S. economy remained pessimistic in the first quarter as the recovery proved sluggish amid signs of potential growth in manufacturing and a slightly improving outlook for organizations, according to a new nationwide survey conducted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School. "It is good to see signs of optimism, especially from the manufacturing sector," said Carol Scott, CPA, AICPA vice president for business, industry and government. "Unfortunately 40 percent of our CPA members in business and industry\chief financial officers, controllers and CPA financial professionals\are now telling us that they do not expect their business to return to pre-recession levels until 2012 and beyond." \SmartPros. Read more.
Accounting Standards News
 GASB Seeks Participants for Financial Reporting Entity Field Test
The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) is soliciting participants for a field test it is conducting in conjunction with the expected March issuance of an Exposure Draft on its financial reporting entity project. All city, county, state, tribal and special-purpose governments that have component units are eligible to participate. Learn more about the field test, including how to volunteer.
AGA's FMSB Seeks Help on Reviewing FASB Pronouncements
GASB on Jan. 29 issued an exposure draft of a proposed Codification of Pre-Nov. 30, 1989 FASB Pronouncements. The objective of the project is to specifically identify provisions in FASB Statements and Interpretations, Accounting Principles Board Opinions, Accounting Research Bulletins of the AICPA Committee on Accounting Procedure, and AICPA Accounting Interpretations, issued on or before Nov. 30, 1989 (collectively termed the FASB Pronouncements) that do not conflict with or contradict GASB pronouncements and to incorporate those provisions into the GASBfs literature. These were referenced in paragraph 17 of GASB Statement No, 34, Basic Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis or State and Local Governments. The comment period is six months, but it is still going to be a monumental task to review the entire exposure draft. AGA's Financial Management Standards Board (FMSB) reviews and comments on all GASB proposed statements of standards, but may need additional volunteer help with this project. If you work in state and local government, have an interest in accounting standards and have some experience in responding to GASB on its proposed standards or to other accounting standard setters, please contact Anna Miller, FMSB staff liaison. You could learn how the FMSB works and help make a difference!
National Award Nominations Due April 16
AGA's National Awards Committee is now accepting nominations for National Awards that recognize the leaders advancing our profession and setting the standards of excellence. These awards will be presented during AGA's 59th Annual Professional Development Conference and Exposition in Orlando, July 11-14, 2010. In many cases, individuals do not have to be members of AGA to be eligible. All nominations are due by Friday, April 16, 2010. Nomination forms are available online. For more information, contact Louise Kapelewski.
March 31 Deadline for National Academic Scholarships
Are you or a family member pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies in disciplines such as accounting, auditing, budgeting, economics, finance, information technology, public administration, etc.? If so, consider applying for an AGA National Academic Scholarship today. Each year, AGA National awards up to four $3,000 full-time merit scholarships to AGA members and their family members; one $1,000 part-time merit scholarships to AGA members and their family members; and one $3,000 community service scholarship. The deadline for receipt of applications is Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Download a copy of the application or contact Louise Kapelewski.
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