Updated BARS Manuals now available on SAO’s website
Updated: Jan 5, 2023
The State Auditor's Office has finished updating the GAAP and Cash Basis BARS Manuals.
Local governments
SAO’s recommended reading from 2022
As the end of the year draws near, I want to thank you for your commitment to transparency and accountability. Good government is a shared mission, and I am proud to partner with you in our work.
Curious about which local governments receive WSDOT funding? FIT has the answer
SAO's latest performance audit report looked at the Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) contracting processes for tolling. While that audit didn't involve local governments, WSDOT plays a large role in how they obtain state resources to improve local road systems. This got staff in SAO's Center for Government Innovation thinking about how much transportation funding WSDOT distributes statewide.
After significant fraud, follow-up audit of Pierce County Housing Authority finds improvement, but issues remain
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 1, 2022
OLYMPIA – The Pierce County Housing Authority has taken steps to improve its financial safeguards since a $7 million misappropriation two years ago, but more needs to be done, according to an accountability audit released today by the Office of the Washington State Auditor.
BARS Manual updates starting Dec. 12
Updated: Dec 12, 2022
The State Auditor's Office will be updating the BARS Manuals (GAAP and Cash) beginning Monday, Dec. 12, 2022.
During the updates, sections of both online BARS Manuals will be unavailable for your use. Once updated, they will be fully available for accounting and reporting guidance related to fiscal year 2022 and forward.
We will notify local government audit contacts via email when the BARS Manuals have been fully updated.
Better use of data, accountability in homelessness efforts, audit recommends
Local governments should be more data-driven and focused on results when addressing homelessness, according to a new performance audit by the Office of the Washington State Auditor.
Auditors reviewed the way two cities and two counties contracted for services aimed at alleviating homelessness. They found that the governments did take some steps to align their work with federal guidelines, such as consulting with stakeholders when considering the needs of people experiencing homelessness.
Do you have a tip hotline? Here are reasons to consider implementing one
Categorized in: Center for Government Innovation • Local governments •
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Do you have employees working remotely? Help them protect your government’s data
The COVID-19 pandemic forced local governments to rapidly convert many office employees to work-from-home employees. While some have returned to the workplace, many employees continue to work either fully or partially remotely. Working from home has many benefits, but it also brings additional risks because remote workers are more vulnerable to cybercrime than those who work in the office.
What do hackers want? Anything they can take from your government
It doesn't matter if you're a small government, a big government, or somewhere in between: You have information that hackers want. From employee personal information and payroll to vendor payments, tax information, critical infrastructure and more, hackers want it all—and they're constantly evolving their tactics to get it.
BARS coding for revenue received from state opioid lawsuit
Updated: Feb 7, 2023
Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Oct. 3, 2022, that 125 local governments in Washington would receive $215 million under a resolution with three companies found responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic.