G F O A | R e s e a r c h The Government Finance Officers Association Research and Consulting Center (RCC) researches and communicates the latest trends, methodologies, and solutions in government management. With experience in a variety of financial areas, the RCC explores technology issues, focusing on financial management and technologies, budgeting, performance management, and financial planning and management. Current research projects include: - IT Strategic Planning and Governance, which explores the organizational structure for making decisions about how IT can support business objectives, how to prioritize IT investments, and how to align organizational behaviors with those needed to gain value from IT
- Investigating the sustainability of local government revenuestructures
- Developing the Finance Officer Leadership Toolbox to help finance officers move beyond a traditional control-oriented role into one that helps the organization meet its strategic objectives
- Exploring the expanded leadership role finance officers should assume in capital projects
- Defining the fundamental characteristics of public sector performance management.
The RCC produces a number of publications through the course of our research. We have featured some of our newer publications here, including printable excerpts, auxillary articles, and reviews. The full offering of GFOA publications can be viewed and purchased at the GFOA e-store. Financing the Future: Long-Term Financial Planning for Local Government 
Faced with downward pressures on tax revenues, increasing expenditures, shifting demographics, as well as a host of other complex challenges, local government needs a new approach to planning. The traditional locus of governmental planning, the annual budget, is ill suited to address such challenges due to its inherent tactical and short-term nature. This makes long-term financial planning an indispensable complement to traditional budgeting and an invaluable piece of a government’s overall planning framework. Financing the Future articulates how long-term financial planning combines financial forecasting with financial strategizing to identify future challenges and opportunities, causes of fiscal imbalances, and strategies to secure financial sustainability. This book describes how government organizations can create and implement a long-term financial plan to improve its long-term, strategic financial outlook.
Capital Project Planning and EvaluationThis book is directed at finance officers from small to mid-size governments and will provide information on capital projects that most governments take on. Finance officers should have an expanded role in capital projects and this book provides information so they can be “informed consumers” and take on a leadership role throughout the entire process from initial planning through construction and into analyzing the impact on the operating budget. The book is organized with several general chapters on common aspects of capital projects covering public participation, common funding sources, procurement processes, and construction management as well as chapters detailing 11 “essential” capital projects, each authored by local government managers with direct experience. 
An introduction to Investment Advisers for State and Local Governments It is important for state and local governments to take a careful and informed approach when selecting and using advisers to manage their investment portfolios. To provide updated guidance in this area, the GFOA has published the second edition of An Introduction to Investment Advisers for State and Local Governments by Sofia Anastopoulos. This publication aims to help government officials select, engage, monitor, and evaluate investment advisers. Budget Technology Report This report analyzes the market for software solutions to assist local governments with formulation and analysis of operating and capital budgets as well as with administration of performance measurement programs. Technology Needs Assessments: Evaluating the Business Case for ERP and Financial Management SystemsThis publication takes you through a step-by-step process for evaluating whether your government ought to invest in a new ERP or financial management system. Covered are concepts such as total cost of ownership (TCO) and return on investment (ROI), how to conduct market research into the solutions that may best suit your government, and how to assess the need to new information management technology by functional area.
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