News

(Chicago, Illinois – April 3, 2018) Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has announced the recipients of its 2018 scholarships. GFOA’s mission is to promote excellence in state and local government financial management and the awarding of scholarships is one of the ways GFOA accomplishes its mission.

(Chicago, Illinois – April 3, 2018) Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) has announced the recipients of its 2018 scholarships. GFOA’s mission is to promote excellence in state and local government financial management and the awarding of scholarships is one of the ways GFOA accomplishes its mission.

The recipients of the two awards for the Frank L. Greathouse Government Accounting Scholarship are Erika Jex and Timothy Kelly. Each will receive $10,000.

Everyone knows that health-care benefits are expensive, usually an employer’s second-biggest expense after payroll. Employers are therefore looking at a number of strategies to keep these costs sustainable.

The GFOA Committee on Governmental Debt Management has recently updated GFOA White Paper: Green Bonds. The paper helps issuers understand the general characteristics, costs, risks, and benefits of entering into these types of transactions.

(Chicago, Illinois January 12, 2018)

Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) 112th Annual Conference will be held May 6─9, 2018, at America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis, Missouri. Shawn Achor will be the first of three keynote presenters at the conference. Achor will speak to all GFOA conference delegates and their guests on May 6, 3:50─5:00 pm (Welcome Reception to follow in America’s Center Convention Complex).

Michael Bryant, who is management and budget director for Mecklenburg County (North Carolina) Government and GFOA Executive Board member, was awarded the 2017 A. John “Jack” Vogt Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Advancement of Local Government Budgeting and Evaluation. The award is presented by the North Carolina Local Government Budget Association and recognizes innovators in advancing budget and evaluation practices.

GFOA's Executive Board Nominating Committee is seeking candidates to fill five at-large positions and the position of president-elect for GFOA. All candidates must be active GFOA members and would serve three-year terms beginning in May 2018. Please apply online using the link below by  January 5, 2018.  For questions on the applicaiton process, please contact Chris Morrill, CEO/Executive Direcor for GFOA.  

On November 2, 2017, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) released the much-anticipated tax reform bill H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The comprehensive draft proposes substantial changes to the federal tax code governing individuals and corporations. As expected, the committee began the process of marking up the bill (i.e., considering potential changes) on November 6. When the process is completed, the bill is expected to go to the floor for a vote before the full House of Representatives.

(Chicago, Illinois – October 3, 2017) Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) will offer its 22nd Annual Governmental GAAP Update web-stream event on November 2, 2017, and again on December 7, 2017, and January 18, 2018, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm (Eastern). The training will provide comprehensive coverage of the most recent developments in accounting and financial reporting for state and local governments, including:

GFOA sent a letter to the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) in response to the GASB’s Exposure Draft (ED) of Implementation Guide No. 201X-Z, Accounting and Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions (and Certain Issues Related to OPEB Plan Reporting). GFOA supports the GASB providing more guidance to preparers of financial statements through implementation guides.

GFOA supports the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Exposure Draft (ED), Certain Disclosures Related to Debt, including Direct Borrowings and Direct Placements, because it brings more transparency to the users of financial statements. GFOA applauds the GASB for providing a definition of debt that will allow preparers can differentiate between debt and other liabilities for financial reporting purposes.