Advancing Excellence and Innovation in Public Finance

GFOA’s mission is to advance excellence in public finance—and I am convinced that doing this effectively means advancing innovation in public finance. As an organization, GFOA strives to serve our members’ best interests, both now and in the future.

We at GFOA are proud of our history of advocating for change and working with leaders to research and advance new ideas, promote emerging trends, and conduct strategic conversations about the future of public finance and ways of solving the most pressing challenges facing governments.

We are at a critical point in the evolution of public finance and state and local government. Trust in institutions is down. Revenue growth is failing to keep pace with expenses. Artificial intelligence and technology will continue to disrupt expectations and capabilities. Climate change is putting a greater strain on infrastructure and our ability to withstand natural disasters. And the role of the federal government and its relationship to state and local governments will likely change. In addition, our members face ongoing challenges in hiring, developing, and maintaining talent. Solving—or even addressing—these challenges will likely require innovation.

• Publication date: June 2025
• Author: Chris Morrill