citizen centric reporting advancing government accountability and transparency

CITIZEN CENTRIC REPORTING

Advancing Government Accountability and

Transparency

CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT REPORTING

AGA Survey (2010)

• Dissatisfied

citizens

• Reporting too

technical

• Distrust in

government

The Problem• Entitled to

transparent

financial

information

• Governments have

an obligation to

provide this

information

Citizens

Believe

CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT REPORTING

• Citizen Centric

Reporting

• General Guidelines

• Short (four pages)

• Understandable

• Easy to read

• Informative

The

Answer

Easy to Construct A Report

Best Practices in Developing a Report

Constructing a Report – Page 1

• Vision Statement• Strategic Goals

• How the government is organized

• Demographics

• Table to Contents

What is the Government Chartered to do?

Constructing a Report – Page 2

• Obtain input from citizens on what measures they would like to see included

• Report on non-financial outcomes for 3 or 4 key missions or services (public safety, public health, roads, parks and recreation, schools)

Performance Information on Key Missions and Service

Constructing a Report – Page 2

Performance Information on Key Missions and Service (cont’d)

Constructing a Report – Page 3

• Include revenue and cost data for major areas

• Use pie charts

• Reference audit conducted

• Reference website for detailed financial information

Revenues and Expenditures

Constructing a Report – Page 4

• Include items specific to the community that will have future effects (economic changes, tax cuts or increases, major new employer, employer leaving, unemployment, technological improvements, infrastructure improvements, education, environmental aspects, being transparent, etc)

• Ask for feedback by including a contact name and contact information

Future Challenges and Economic Outlook

Constructing a Report – Page 4

Future Challenges and Economic Outlook (cont’d)

Constructing A Report

• Visual Appeal & Readability

• Use of Pictures and Graphics, Color

• Ample White Space (not

text heavy

• Free of technical jargon

• Professional designer or publishing software

Design

Guidelines

Distribute the Report/Feedback

• Print in local

newspaper

• Post to website

• Print bulk copies –

libraries, grocery

stores, city hall

• Hold a press

conference

• Governor’s office and

government officials

• Activist groups

• Ask for feedback

• Web statistics

• Calls to office

• Mentions in the media

Completed ReportsAGA

Local Governments:

City of Bellevue, WA

City of Columbus, IN

City and County of Denver

City of Jefferson, MO

City of Lancaster, MA

City of Las Vegas, NM

City of Palo Alto, CA

City of Portland, OR

City of Portsmouth, VA

City of Saco, ME

City of Stamford, CT

City of Tallahassee, FL

The District of Columbia

The Village of Los Lunas, NM

Beavercreek Township Fire Dept, OH

Benton County Treasurer, WA

Blount County, TN

Guilford County, NC

King County, WA

Maricopa County, AZ

Metro Govt of Nashville/Davidson Cnty, TN

Palm Beach County Tax Collector, FL

Springfield-Greene County Health Dept, MO

St Louis County, MN

Completed Reports (Cont’d)State Governments:

Idaho State Police

State of Idaho

State of Maryland

MA Developmental Disabilities Council

State of Nevada

State of New York

State of Oregon

State of South Carolina

TN Comptroller of the Treasury

State of Texas

State of Washington

State of Washington Audit

Federal Government:

US Coast Guard

Denali Commission

General Services Administration

National Science Foundation

The Architect of the Capitol

Treasury Franchise Fund

USAID

US Department of Defense

US Department of the Interior

Other:

FMI Canada

The University of Guam

Guam Public School System

Incentives

Certificate of Excellence in Citizen-Centric Reporting (and Achievement Certificate)

Peer Reviewed

Chapter Recognition Bonus Credits Make contact with a government, encourage them to produce and publish a four-page Citizen Centric Report—100 credits per contact made

Government that you contacted produces and publishes a four-page Citizen Centric Report—500 credits per published report

Tools and Guidance Online

Content Guidelines

Design Guidelines

Completed Reports

www.agacgfm.org/citizen

SUMMARY

• The Problem

– Dissatisfied citizens

– Distrust

• The solution

– Citizen Centric

Reporting Model

– Increased

transparency

• The benefits

– Reliable source of

information

– Improved relationship

between citizen and

government

– Increased accountability

– Increased civic

involvement by citizens

– Informed Citizenry