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 The Answer

Easy to Construct A Report Assemble your Document Organize your data Sift through your data Collect data from the government’s website and published reports Review the AGA website for completed reports Obtain citizen input The Important thing is to start!

Best Practices in Developing a Report Remember that the readers are average citizens – come at it from their perspective Look at completed reports for ideas Assign each page to a different individual and/or team Use AGA’s Content and Design Guideline Templates Cut and paste effort from government’s website and published reports

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 Design Guidelines

Distribute the Report/Feedback

Completed Reports AGA 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

Tools and Guidance Online

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