Governments have take-home vehicle programs because there is a benefit to the government and the public in doing so, such as to meet police or other emergency response needs. But when was the last time you assessed risks related to your take-home vehicle program, or updated your policy? Are you certain the benefits outweigh the costs?
By the Center for Government Innovation
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
The Center for Government Innovation has published two new resources to help local governments identify best practices for two different, but possibly related areas: credit card programs and travel expenditures.
Credit card programs
The Center for Government Innovation has added two procurement-related resources to the Resources Database in recent months:
By Oskar Rey
Municipal Research and Services Center
By Toni Nelson and Steve Hawley,
Municipal Research and Services Center
Recently, the Performance Center provided several resources on accounting for capital assets to help local governments with financial reporting. Another group of assets, which fall below a government's capitalization threshold, should also be considered when establishing and evaluating asset policies and other internal controls. In Washington, we frequently refer to these as “small and attractive assets,” but they these could be described using different terminology.
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Kennewick, Washington: The Benton-Franklin Health District building is a clean, modern facility, shining brightly from its location tucked behind a shopping center and other businesses. The waiting room is spacious, and the interior brims with helpful pamphlets about preventing common diseases, staying healthy and knowing when to visit your doctor. The facility is designed to put clients at ease as they wait for their appointments. Health District employees care about their clients and have designed their space around their clients' comfort.
Are you unsure when the formal competitive bidding process is required?
Implementing effective internal financial policies can be challenging for local governments of any size, which is why the Performance Center teamed up with the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) to simplify the process.