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Highlights

Audio Conference Set on Citizen-Centric Reporting
AGA is pleased to announce a new audio conference, Improving Government Transparency Through Citizen-Centric Reporting, addressing the need for governments to improve how they report financial information to taxpayers. The audio conference, worth 2 CPE hours, is set for 2 – 3:50 EDT, April 23.

AGA’s Citizen Centric Government Reporting Program encourages governments to publish an annual “state of the government” report that is no more than four pages long. The reports, designed to be visually appealing, provide understandable information to citizens about the performance and financial condition of the government, as well as demographics and future challenges. Hear what tools are available from AGA to produce such a report and listen to three practitioners who have recently published such reports: Mary Lechner, CGFM, CPA, Chief, Internal Control Branch, U.S. Coast Guard; Sam McCall, CGFM, CPA, City Auditor, Tallahassee, FL; Kim Wallin, Controller, State of Nevada; and Relmond Van Daniker, DBA, CPA, AGA Executive Director.

Cost is $249 per site (UNLIMITED ATTENDANCE) if you register on or before April 18, and $299 thereafter. Government agencies and AGA Corporate Partner members who register five or more offices will receive a 20 percent discount. Also, AGA chapters can register for $200 per site.

Register online, or print the regular registration form, or the special promotion registration form and fax it to 703.684.6933.

AGA's PDC Offers Impressive Speakers
AGA brings Southern hospitality and sizzle to your summer… Get ready for PDC 2008 in Hotlanta! With timely topics fitting the theme, “Building on the Dream: Creating a Culture of Accountability,” and offering 24 CPE hours, PDC 2008 promises to be one of the Association's best.

One of the best reasons to attend is the unprecedented gathering of top-notch speakers and financial management experts. This year’s dynamic, high-profile keynote speakers include:

David S. Broder, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and national political correspondent, The Washington Post

Elaine Chao, U.S. Secretary of Labor

Kurt Eichenwald, business journalist and best-selling author, Conspiracy of Fools

Rev. Dr. Bernice King, internationally acclaimed orator, ordained minister and daughter of Martin Luther King Jr.

Andrew Young, pastor, civil rights leader, former U.N. ambassador

In addition to an outstanding technical program, the PDC provides unparalleled opportunities to network, exchange ideas, have fun and meet new friends.

Build on the dream… show your commitment a more accountable future—register today.

April 7, 2008 • News from the Profession

AGA Today is Brought to You by AGA Corporate Partner Clifton Gunderson

Clifton Gunderson offices in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, MD and Harrisburg, PA are looking for experienced professionals to join our public sector practice. The ideal candidate will have 5+ yrs of Public Accounting or equivalent audit experience along with your BA/BS in Accounting and CPA or CGFM. Duties will include audits of Federal entities, State & Local audits (GASB), A-133 audits, and compliance auditing. To apply please e-mail Michael.Armstrong@cliftoncpa.com.

States Are Hit Hard by Economic Downturn; Cutbacks Felt by Most Needy
In Illinois' Cook County, women in poor neighborhoods no longer have access to free mammograms from two mobile vans testing for breast cancer. In New Jersey, state workers are being laid off, and at least one town is canceling its traditional Fourth of July fireworks. And in California's San Fernando Valley, Everardo Orozco, 53, who has AIDS, exhausted his medical benefits and can no longer afford the drugs that are keeping him alive. State budgets have been hit hard by a worsening national economy, including rising costs for energy and health care. In addition, fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis—declining home sales, deflated property values and mounting foreclosures—has caused a slide in states' anticipated tax receipts. Revenue from property taxes, sales taxes and real estate transfer taxes is affected. At least half of the nation's states are facing budget shortfalls, some of them severe, and policymakers in most of the states affected are proposing and passing often-painful measures to trim costs and close the gaps. —Keith B. Richburg and Ashley Surdin, The Washington Post. Read more.

Inspector General Notes Moderate Progress at FEMA
Although it has been more than two-and-a-half years since Hurricane Katrina exposed massive government problems in handling catastrophes, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has not made substantial progress in key emergency preparedness areas, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's inspector general says in a new report. Instead, FEMA has made moderate to modest progress in eight of nine of the most important preparedness areas, according to the report, which was not released but was obtained by CongressDaily. "FEMA officials said that budget shortfalls, reorganizations, inadequate information technology systems and confusing or limited authorities negatively affected their progress," the IG report asserts. "We agree with FEMA," the report adds. "FEMA would also benefit from better knowledge management and plans for sustaining initiatives that are under way." —Chris Strohm, CongressDaily. Read more.

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Contact us at 1-877-CPA-EXAM or Becker CPA Review or e-mail Monica Callahan to learn more about this career defining opportunity.

National Grants Partnership Needs Government Volunteers; Conference Call Tuesday
The National Grants Partnership is seeking 200 volunteers to participate in the Federal Financial Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) Sub-Award Pilot Workgroup. The 2006 act requires the U.S. Office of Management and Budget to develop a publicly available, free-of-charge, searchable website on federal funding. The first phase of the new reporting system became available at www.usaspending.gov in January. Sub award information will need to be captured and reported by January 2009. The pilot will identify the increased reporting burden and associated obstacles with implementing the sub-award piece of the law. About 200 volunteer grant recipients are being asked to participate, including states, local governments, non-profits, tribal governments and colleges. The pilot is set to start June 23, 2008 and end Aug. 23, 2008. If you are interested in participating in this pilot, take part in a conference call set for 2 to 4 p.m. ET April 8. Send an e-mail to: TheNGP@aol.com confirming your participation.

This Week on the AGA Blog
Bookmark http://aga.typepad.com/aga—the place for government finance professionals to share ideas and dialogue with some of the top names in the business. This week's guests are:

Monday: Thomas J. Sadowski, CGFM, CPA, Missouri State Controller and AGA Past National President

Tuesday: Wendy Payne, CGFM, Executive Director, Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board

Wednesday: AGA Day. Today, Craig Hall, chief financial officer for the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, talks about his agency's Citizen-Centric Reporting effort.

Thursday: Joseph L. Kull, CGFM, Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC

Friday: Penny Wardlow, Ph.D., CGFM

Wondering how to post a comment? It's simple! Just click on the "Comment" link at the bottom of each essay and fill out the name and e-mail dialogue boxes. You can skip the box that requests your URL and keep in mind that your e-mail address will not be published. After you have written your comment, click the button to post it. You will be asked to enter a security code. It's that easy! Come by and join the discussion the AGA Blog!

We're registering "guest bloggers" for May right now. Get on the schedule by e-mailing Marie Force, director of communications.

AGA Today is Brought to You by Corporate Partner MorganFranklin

MorganFranklin puts the word “value” back into agency compliance efforts. Visit morganfranklin.com/federal for more information.

GASB Seeks Input on Proposed Changes to Concepts Statement on SEA Reporting
The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has issued an Exposure Draft that would update Concepts Statement No. 2, Service Efforts and Accomplishments Reporting, to reflect the accumulated knowledge gathered through research and monitoring conducted during the 14 years since the Concepts Statement was issued. The GASB believes that this proposal will enhance the understanding of the elements, characteristics, limitations, and methods of communicating SEA performance information and thereby help governments to be more accountable to their constituents. In addition, it would clarify that it is beyond the scope of the GASB to: establish the goals and objectives of state and local government services; develop specific nonfinancial measures or indicators of service performance; or set benchmarks for service performance. The GASB encourages interested individuals and organizations to comment on the ED by July 3, 2008. The proposal, as well as the related news release and plain-language article, can be downloaded free from the GASB website.

GASAC Update
Greetings to the AGA membership. As a member of the Greater Boston Chapter and deputy comptroller of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I am proud to serve as your representative to the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council (GASAC). For those who are new to the profession, GASAC effectively serves as the Governmental Accounting Standards Board’s (GASB) eyes, ears and voice to GASAC’s constituent organizations and beyond. The GASAC mission is:
• To consult with GASB on its technical agenda.
• To communicate by providing input, views and comments to GASB on proposed and existing standards.
• To consult with GASB on its task forces, budgets and other administrative matters.
• To assist in raising funds to support the GASB.To encourage cooperation among all constituent organizations.
• To ensure that information on GASB is shared with those organizations and beyond.
It is my pleasure to share with the AGA membership what transpired at the GASAC meeting on March 6 and 7 at the GASB offices in Norwalk, CT. —Eric Berman. Read more.

Anatomy of Ethical Slips in Government Topic of May 14 Audio Conference
AGA, in conjunction with NASACT and ALGA, is pleased to announce a new and increasingly important topic to our audio conference schedule—cases of ethical lapses.

During this audio conference, the presenter will recount recent ethical lapses in government and examine the causes and effects. By examining a series of ethical lapses, we find that a pattern emerges. That pattern allows us to think about this question: What is it in the culture of an agency that allows obvious ethical breaches to occur and continue? Once we understand the culture, we can think about putting the detection methods, as well as antidotes, in place.

Thinking more deeply about nurturing a culture of ethics is the key to prevention of ethical lapses, at all levels.

To share her expertise in ethical behavior and its ramifications is Marianne M. Jennings, JD, professor in the Department of Management in the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University (ASU).

Please join us for two hours of lively discussion that includes 20 minutes for Q & A. Cost: $249 per site (UNLIMITED ATTENDANCE) if you register by May 9 and $299 thereafter. SPECIAL PROMOTION: Register five or more offices from your government agency or CPAG firm and receive a 20 percent discount.

Register online, print the registration form and fax it to 703.684.6933 or print the Special Promotion Registration form and fax it to 703.684.6933.

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