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Accounting for Capital Assets:
A Guide for State and Local Governments (second edition)

Description: Capital assets typically constitute the largest single item on a state or local government's statement of net position. Not only do capital assets need to be reported in the financial statements, but governments must track and maintain control over them. Accounting for Capital Assets offers clear and straight-forward guidance to public-sector accounting... Details

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Best Practices in Community College Budgeting


GFOA's Best Practices in Community College Budgeting provides for a comprehensive budget process framework focused on alignment of resources and desired student outcomes. The framework represents the culmination of a multi-year effort led by GFOA, with input from numerous community college officials and other experts in education finance, to develop guidelines for better budgeting, tailored specifically for community... Details
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Best Practices in School Budgeting


GFOA's Best Practices in School Budgeting provides for a comprehensive budget process framework that emphasizes academic and finance collaboration to best align resources for desired student outcomes. The framework represents the culmination of a multi-year effort led by GFOA, with input from numerous school district officials and other experts in education finance, to develop guidelines for better budgeting, tailored... Details
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Second Edition
The Government Finance Officers Association launched its most popular publications series 24 years ago when it issued An Elected Official's Guide to Government Finance. This second edition provides an overview of key financial management issues by topic, and includes references to new and updated GFOA policies and recommended practices. This book is divided into six general finance categories: Financial Policies,... Details
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Revenue forecasting plays an important role in the budgeting and financial planning processes of state and local governments. Since a budget is only as good as the assumptions and methods on which it is based, an accurate revenue forecast is necessary.
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Create financial sustainability for your community with An Elected Official's Guide: Long-Term Financial Planning for Local Government. Learn the fundamentals of financial planning, from what constitutes a plan to how to establish one that will benefit your community's future. Sections covered include An Introduction to Long-Term Financial Planning; Long-Term Financial Planning and Organizational Roles; Implementing Long-Term Financial Planning; Cornerstones to Financial... Details

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NEW! An Elected Official's Guide: Understanding the Fiscal Health of Your Community

Prepared leaders make effective policy. Elected officials who understand the language and concepts of public finance can better assess the fiscal health of their communities.


Providing a high standard of living for a locality requires effective leadership. Those voted into public office can feel abruptly bombarded with reports and analysis spanning several... Details
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NEW! An Elected Official's Guide: Understanding the Fiscal Health of Your Community E-Book

Prepared leaders make effective policy. Elected officials who understand the language and concepts of public finance can better assess the fiscal health of their communities.


Providing a high standard of living for a locality requires effective leadership. Those voted into public office can feel abruptly bombarded with reports and analysis spanning several... Details
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NEW! An Elected Official's Guide: Understanding the Fiscal Health of Your Community Set

Includes paperbound and e-book versions.

Prepared leaders make effective policy. Elected officials who understand the language and concepts of public finance can better assess the fiscal health of their communities.


Providing a high standard of living for a locality requires effective leadership. Those voted into public office can feel abruptly bombarded... Details
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Members: $20 / Nonmembers: $30

New!

An Elected Official’s Guide to Fiscal First Aid and Financial Recovery

An Elected Official’s Guide to Fiscal First Aid and Financial Recovery aims to help public officials navigate through these challenging economic times. The booklet covers three basic stages of financial recovery:

  • Bridging - getting through the immediate crisis and... Details
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Financial Foundations for Thriving Communities


Financial Foundations for Thriving Communities introduces GFOA's new Financial Foundations Framework. Organized into five pillars, the Framework shows you how to improve your financial position now and create a strong foundation for a thriving community over the long-term. Each pillar includes different leadership strategies and/or institutional design principles. Understanding that local governments cannot... Details
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Financial Foundations for Thriving Communities (eBook)


Financial Foundations for Thriving Communities introduces GFOA's new Financial Foundations Framework. Organized into five pillars, the Framework shows you how to improve your financial position now and create a strong foundation for a thriving community over the long-term. Each pillar includes different leadership strategies and/or institutional design principles. Understanding that local governments... Details
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Members $45 / Nonmembers $70

Financial Policies

Financial policies are used by a governing board and executive management to set the baseline standards for how the organization will be managed financially. Financial Policies is a GFOA publication that provides guidance on developing and implementing financial policies. The book takes a new look at traditional policies such as those for general fund reserves, debt, and revenues. It also... Details
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"Transform Your Approach to Financial Management"

Faced with downward pressures on tax revenues, increasing expenditures, shifting demographics, as well as host of other complex challenges, local governments need a new approach to planning. Readers of Financing the Future will discover key features of a successful long-term financial plan; phases pivotal to plan implementation; and how to involve elected officials, staff, and citizens to create a plan that gets results ... Details
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Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting
2024 Edition

(1,084 pages; softbound)

GFOA has published Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting (GAAFR or "Blue Book") for the past 89 years with hundreds of thousands of copies sold.

    The GAAFR is designed to serve as:

    • A comprehensive introduction to public-sector accounting and auditing for experienced financial professionals new to... Details
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Informed Decision-Making through Forecasting:
A Practitioner’s Guide to Government Revenue Analysis


Learn How to Improve Financial Decision-Making through Better Forecasting

The Challenges of Forecasting:
  • Forecasts are not effective. The ultimate goal of a forecast is to improve financial decision-making; however, decision-makers are often much more influenced by factors other than the financial forecast.
  • Administrative... Details
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New!

IT Budgeting and Decision Making: Maximizing Your Government's Technology Investments

You need to make sure the big bucks you're spending for IT are giving you the benefits you bargained for? including cost savings.

This book explains how the budget process can be combined with concepts of IT governance to allocate technology dollars to the most promising uses and to create the management systems needed to achieve every possible... Details

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There is probably no single number in a typical state or local government’s financial statements that attracts more attention and discussion than fund balance. Recently, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board issued guidance that will fundamentally alter the classifications and terminology that governments use to present this uniquely important amount in their financial statements. This publication offers a practical way for anyone with an interest in state or... Details