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Grant Thornton
As the new year approaches government financial managers remain focused on costcutting and taxpayer accountability. While progress has been made over the last 12 months there are significant challenges. To move forward successfully, agencies at all levels of government need to analyze organizational needs and streamline systems and methods for complying with transparency laws and regulations. Grant Thornton can help federal, state and local agencies design solutions that work for their needs and infrastructure despite reduced budgets and fewer staff resources.
Transparency is here to stay
One thing is clear: The push for greater transparency in government is here to stay, fueled by legislative mandates, taxpayer demands and the sheer communication resources of the internet. The good news is that processes put in place over the last several years are now showing results. The Recovery Accountability and Transparency (RAT) Board, established by Congress in 2009, has been successful rooting out waste largely because of a dedicated staff, an independent funding stream and legislative authority. Throughout 2012 the RAT Board has been working closely with the OMB and the Campaign to Cut Waste's Government Accountability and Transparency Board (GATB) to test a new series of proposals:
* Standardizing grant and contract award data, now being tested in the Defense Department and Department of Health and Human Services
* Preventing and detecting waste, fraud and abuse through the Recovery Operations Center and Federal.Accountability.gov systems
* Implementing the Recovery Board's FastAlert tool which provides immediate access for reviewing data on potential grant awardees
* Establishing a new Statement of Spending to provide data on how agencies spend money more transparent with annual audited financial statements
* Creating a universal award identification (UAID) number within the Treasury Department to improve its payment system
Results from these tests are expected out in December, with the plan to implement new measures in 2013.
State and local governments are also moving forward with transparency efforts. Alaska's Checkbook Online is publishing information from the statewide accounting system. Transparency Florida posts Florida's operating budget and associated expenditure records. The Maryland Funding Accountability website allows citizens of Maryland and visitors to search and view summary information on payments made to vendors that received $25,000 or more for the respective fiscal year.
The...