CITIZEN CENTRIC REPORTING
Advancing Government
Accountability and Transparency
CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT
REPORTING
The Problem
Citizens Believe
AGA Survey (2010)
• Entitled to
• Dissatisfied citizens
transparent financial
• Reporting too
information
technical
• Distrust in
government
• Governments have an
obligation to provide
this information
CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNMENT
REPORTING
The Answer
• Citizen Centric
Reporting
• General Guidelines
• Short (four pages)
• Understandable
• Easy to read
• Informative
Easy to Construct A Report
The Important thing is to start!
Obtain citizen input
Review the AGA website for completed reports
Collect data from the government’s website and published reports
Sift through your data
Organize your data
Assemble your Document
Best Practices in Developing a Report
Cut and paste effort from government’s website and published reports
Use AGA’s Content and Design Guideline Templates
Assign each page to a different individual and/or team
Look at completed reports for ideas
Remember that the readers are average citizens – come at it from their
perspective
Constructing a Report – Page 1
What is the Government Chartered to do?
• Vision Statement
• Strategic Goals
• How the government is organized
• Demographics
• Table to Contents
Constructing a Report – Page 2
Performance Information on Key Missions
and Service
• 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)
Constructing a Report – Page 2
Performance Information on Key Missions
and Service (cont’d)
Constructing a Report – Page 3
Revenues and Expenditures
• Include revenue
and cost data
for major areas
• Use pie charts
• Reference audit
conducted
• Reference
website for
detailed
financial
information
Constructing a Report – Page 4
Future Challenges and Economic Outlook
• 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
Constructing a Report – Page 4
Future Challenges and Economic Outlook
(cont’d)
Constructing A Report
Design Guidelines
•
Visual Appeal & Readability
•
Use of Pictures and
Graphics, Color
•
Ample White Space (not
text heavy
•
Free of technical jargon
•
Professional designer or
publishing software
Distribute the Report/Feedback
• Print in local newspaper
• Ask for feedback
• Post to website
• Web statistics
• Print bulk copies –
• Calls to office
libraries, grocery stores,
city hall
• Hold a press conference
• Governor’s office and
government officials
• Activist groups
• Mentions in the media
Completed Reports
AGA
The District of Columbia
Local Governments:
The Village of Los Lunas, NM
City of Bellevue, WA
Beavercreek Township Fire Dept, OH
City of Columbus, IN
Benton County Treasurer, WA
City and County of Denver
Blount County, TN
City of Jefferson, MO
Guilford County, NC
City of Lancaster, MA
King County, WA
City of Las Vegas, NM
Maricopa County, AZ
City of Palo Alto, CA
Metro Govt of Nashville/Davidson
Cnty, TN
City of Portland, OR
City of Portsmouth, VA
City of Saco, ME
City of Stamford, CT
City of Tallahassee, FL
Palm Beach County Tax Collector, FL
Springfield-Greene County Health
Dept, MO
St Louis County, MN
Completed Reports (Cont’d)
State Governments:
Federal Government:
Idaho State Police
US Coast Guard
State of Idaho
Denali Commission
State of Maryland
General Services Administration
MA Developmental Disabilities
Council
National Science Foundation
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
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
• The benefits
– Dissatisfied citizens
– Reliable source of information
– Distrust
– Improved relationship between
• The solution
– Citizen Centric Reporting
Model
– Increased transparency
citizen and government
– Increased accountability
– Increased civic involvement by
citizens
– Informed Citizenry