Government Finance Review articles from December 1998

Government Finance Review archives from December 1998

Year 2000 readiness of state and local governments: findings from the GFOA/MBIA Survey.(Government Finance Officers Assn)
December 1, 1998... This study examines methods and evaluates progress made by state and local governments in addressing Year 2000 problems. Public and private organizations alike are busy managing the threat of operational disruptions resulting from the Year...

Meeting the Y2K challenge.(Year 2000 computing problem)
December 1, 1998... Understanding and knowledge coupled with concerted organizational effort are needed to meet and beat the challenges associated with the Y2K bug. The Year 2000 (Y2K) problem is similar to an odometer problem. As information systems using...

Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility's Year 2000 Remediation Project.
December 1, 1998... Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility has taken the Y2K threat very seriously and implemented a project to prevent computer collapses and interruptions. Anchorage is a mid-size, modern city with approximately 250,000 residents and a...

Technology architecture choices for enterprise financial systems.
December 1, 1998... This article presents basic concepts and issues related to information technology choices facing finance officers during system acquisitions. The impending year 2000 crisis has prompted many private and public organizations to examine the...

Trends in infrastructure funding: the other Year 2000 problem.
December 1, 1998... A National League of Cities survey demonstrates that operating revenues and spending grow only incrementally compared to capital revenue and spending. The unprecedented economic growth of the past seven years has benefited not only...

Public-sector defined contribution plans: lessons from seven governments.
December 1, 1998... This article is intended to provide a roadmap for public plan sponsors considering a defined contribution plan. Editor's note: Many finance officers are confronted today with the challenges of establishing and maintaining effective and...

Competitive contracting for wastewater treatment.
December 1, 1998... The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District successfully outsourced its plant and field services and expects to save $140 million dollars over 10 years. In January 1998 the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) approved a...

Managing the media: a primer for finance officers.
December 1, 1998... This article presents strategies to improve finance officers' relationships and communication with the media. Public finance officials are not formally trained to deal with the media. Talking with reporters is usually not in the job...

Technological change and tax policy: the future of state and local tax structures.
December 1, 1998... As the economy shifts from goods to services and electronic commerce becomes a significant force in the economy, state and local taxing bodies are confronted with new challenges and questions. Editor's note: The report "Is the New Global...

The Year 2000 problem: a public plan perspective.
December 1, 1998... This article was originally released as an internal document at the Metropolitan Corporate Counsel in June 1998. It is reprinted and adapted with permission. It is not too soon for fiduciaries of public plans to assess and to take action...

An open letter from the SEC Chairman.(examples on impact of Year 2000 computing problem on municipal securities offerings)
December 1, 1998... Proper disclosure by issuers of municipal securities has been a subject close to my heart since my first days as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The strength of our municipal securities markets is largely due to the...

Measuring and forecasting debt capacity: the state of Oregon experience.
December 1, 1998... For more than 15 years the State of Oregon has had a highly centralized and managed debt issuance process. This process has been very successful as measured by improved bond ratings and reduced costs of borrowing for state-level programs. The...

Implementing multi-year budgeting in the City of Moreno Valley, California.
December 1, 1998... In its search for ways to improve productivity, the City of Moreno Valley, California, recently experimented with its first two-year budget process. The results have been widely applauded by city staff, all levels of management, and the city...

Creating High-Performance Government Organizations: A Practical Guide for Public Managers.(Review)
December 1, 1998... Popovich, Mark G., editor San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass Publishers. (179 pp) Reviewed by Greg C. Gaskins, Deputy Finance Director, City of Charlotte, North Carolina. This book is a product of the Alliance for Redesigning...

The Wealth of Cities.(Review)
December 1, 1998... Norquist, John O. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Press (207 pp) Reviewed by Roger Galipeau, Director, Productivity and Deputy to City Manager, Montreal, Quebec. The Wealth of Cities is an inspiring and timely book that...