Executive Board Nominating Committee Seeks InputThe GFOA Executive Board Nominating Committee is seeking recommendations for candidates to fill five at-large positions and the position of president-elect for the 2014-2015 GFO Executive Board. All candidates must be active GFOA members. Please send nominations by January 31, 2014, to Chris Morrill, Past President, c/o GFOA, 203 N. LaSalle St., Ste. 2700, Chicago, IL 60601-1210.
Click here for the nomination form. |
GFOA Updates Municipal Advisor Rule Issue BriefThe GFOA updated and reposted the issue brief it developed on the SEC’s final definition of the term “municipal advisor.” The rule will become active January 14, 2014. The update contains all of the information provided in the original issue brief, along with some new information. The updated issue brief is available here.
The SEC is expected to release a FAQ document within the next few weeks to help the market better understand certain aspects of the rule. The GFOA has asked for clarifications related to: the status of underwriter pools; when a municipal advisor can be considered to be engaged with the issuer on a transaction, and how that should be completed in writing; a clear definition of “RFP”; and at what time in a transaction can the underwriter be considered to be engaged with the issuer for the transaction. When information on the SEC’s FAQ release is available, it will be included in the GFOA’s weekly newsletter. |
GFOA Executive Board Approves 14 Best PracticesOn October 4, 2013, the GFOA’s Executive Board approved 14 best practices – eight new and six revised – on topics from managing health-care costs to pension funding policy. Additional information about these best practices is available here. |
2014 Scholarships for Full- and Part-Time Students Now AvailableLearn more |
Send Us Your Innovations: Awards for Excellence Applications AvailableApplications are available for the GFOA’s 2014 Awards for Excellence in Government Finance. The program recognizes innovative contributions to the practice of government finance that exemplify outstanding financial management. Applications are due December 15, 2013. Winners will be informed by April 1, 2014, and will be expected to accept their awards at the GFOA’s 2014 annual conference, to be held May 18-21 in Minneapolis.
Read more. |
GFOA Provides Advocacy Tools on Marketplace Fairness Act and Municipal Tax ExemptionAs Congress returns home to their congressional districts for the month-long August recess, the GFOA and its state and local coalition partners are gearing up for what is expected to be a busy fall session, with federal action on comprehensive tax reform and the Marketplace Fairness Act projected to increase. GFOA members can help ensure positive outcomes for maintaining the tax exemption on municipal bond interest and enactment of the Marketplace Fairness Act (HR 684) by meeting with their Senators and members of Congress over the month-long August congressional recess. The GFOA has developed a comprehensive suite of advocacy materials for members to use in communicating with their federal elected leaders on both of these items. These materials include factsheets, talking points, draft letters, resolutions and op-eds, as well as joint reports and links to the advocacy efforts of the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, U.S. Conference of Mayors and National Governor’s Association. All of these materials are available on the GFOA’s Federal Government Relations page. |
New Pension Numbers for Books, Budgets, and BondsPublic pension data have become more complex as GASB, the rating agencies, and governments themselves may all be using different sets of pension numbers for different purposes. The GFOA and other leading national associations representing state and local governments, agencies, and officials have developed a one-page summary to help everyone concerned understand the differences among these numbers, the intended purpose and audience, and new resources available to lawmakers to address pension funding. |
Learn about Enhancements to the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget AwardThe Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) announced that it has received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the purpose of identifying and promoting best budgeting practices for schools and community colleges. The research project, which is scheduled for completion in February 2015, will develop and implement criteria for GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award program to incentivize school districts and community colleges to integrate resource alignment best practices into their budget processes. Read more |
Pension Guide Book and Funding Guidance for Elected OfficialsThe GFOA and other leading organizations representing state and local governments and retirement systems, working together as part of a Pension Funding Task Force in Washington, D.C., released their final report, Pension Funding: A Guide for Elected Officials. The guide, which GFOA members are encouraged to share with their elected officials and other decision makers, provides an overview of defined benefit pension plans, including how such plans are funded and the new standards issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. |
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Check Out the GFOA’s Model for Self-Assessment of the Finance FunctionHow effective is your jurisdiction's financial management? The CIPFA GFOA FM Model can help you find out. This powerful tool, created by the GFOA's U.K. counterpart, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, and customized for U.S. and Canadian governments by the GFOA, will help your organization achieve high performance in financial management. Learn More Redmond, Washington, Assesses Its Financial Management Capabilities |
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