[Vision2020] limitations of local government

Sat Jan 29 12:56:05 PST 2005

I am not referring to the accounting software, but the production of the 
financial statements.  These statements were prepared, from the underlying 
accounting package, using MS Word and MS Excel (or the equivalent).

In order to provide me with the ability to track the financial condition 
(fiscal status) of the various political entities in our area and to have 
local government statements available for the classroom (I teach the 
governmental and not for profit course - grad and undergrad) I am scanning 
the reports into digital format.  It is the only practical way for the 
statements to get into the hands of the students.

At some point I will try to make these documents available to the general 
public (perhaps for a small fee ;-)) so I can recover my initial cost of 
approx. $75.)

The point is, other local governmental entities in our state have found a 
way to produce digital statements - we should be doing it here.  As a point 
of reference, check out the link for the UI financial statements - the full 
set for the past 10 years is available online - here is the link:

http://www.baas.uidaho.edu/fin_stmnts/

But thanks for your input - it is important that we get this fixed ASAP.

At 11:20 AM 1/29/2005, you wrote:

>Jeff,
>
>Unless budget/financial sheet software has changed significantly since my 
>tenure at the courthouse, it would not be available in a digital format 
>that could be accessed by other users. At that time (pre-PC, mainframe 
>only) it was proprietary software, not off the shelf. Given the inertia of 
>local government, it is more likely to have been tweaked rather than 
>replaced over the years but I could certainly be wrong. Wouldn't be the 
>first time.
>
>Not sure if you're referring to the annual audit when discussing the CAFR, 
>but if so, back then it was prepared and delivered by the outside auditor 
>in hard copy which would require copying and subsequent fee. I don't see 
>any reason these days that report couldn't be formatted to pdf as a part 
>of the audit contract.
>
>I've gone down with this ship before, but I'll say it again: to address 
>the valid issues that you raise requires both clear direction from county 
>commissioners who can devote enough time to the work of the office to 
>achieve the consensus necessary (full-time in my opinion), trained staff 
>and the monetary resource to devote the time needed. Space at the 
>courthouse to breathe would help, too. Kootenai County, with its explosive 
>growth rate, much greater population and subsequent increase in property 
>tax base is not the county I would choose for comparison. How is Nez Perce 
>County handling these information issues?
>
>Mark Solomon
>
>At 10:21 AM -0800 1/29/05, Jeff Harkins wrote:
>>Thanks Bill and Mark for this thread.
>>
>>One of my principle concerns about our local government has been their 
>>reluctance to utilize their websites to improve their community 
>>communication relations.
>>
>>Last year, I wanted the financial statements for Latah County (not the 
>>summaries, but the full General Purpose Financial Statements) - this year 
>>I would like to see the CAFR (Comprehensive Annual Financial Report).  No 
>>copies were available, but at a cost of $15 each, I could acquire the 
>>statements.  At best, that represents a difficulty for citizens wanting 
>>to explore the fiscal status of the County in depth.  In the worst case, 
>>it precludes lower income folks from having reasonable access.
>>
>>On another point, none of the current operational documents are 
>>online.  As most are aware, there are numerous issues pertaining to the 
>>Comprehensive Long Range Plan and proposed ordinances to that plan.  At a 
>>minimum, the current Long Range Plan should be online - as well as all 
>>the current ordinances.  None are available at this time.
>>
>>I direct your attention to the website for Kootenai County at this link:
>>
>>  http://www.co.kootenai.id.us/
>>
>>Not exactly rocket science to have a fully supportive website - please 
>>note the current financial statements are given high visibility and 
>>Comprehensive Plan, ordinances and proposed ordinances are all available.
>>
>>We are fortunate to have a good population of talented website designers 
>>in our area and the costs of providing a good website are low.  So why 
>>isn't it there ?
>>
>>At 09:46 AM 1/29/2005, you wrote:
>>>M-
>>>regarding your suggestion that City of Moscow post all agendas and 
>>>notices to V2020....
>>>not only is this common sense, but also a suggestion that has gone to 
>>>both city and county governments for years...with some results (note 
>>>that the county commissioners and city council meeting agendas are 
>>>posted to V2020).
>>>could the city/county post more? sure.
>>>maybe many V2020 subscribers could ask them to do so.
>>>Contact Gary Riedner at city hall....
>>>BL
>>>
>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>
>>>From: <mailto:FCS at moscow.com>Mark Seman
>>>
>>>To: <mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com>Vision2020
>>>
>>>Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 4:45 PM
>>>
>>>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Moscow Animal Ordinances
>>>
>>>
>>>Kit & V2020,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>This is the first time I’ve heard about this revision effort.  I put in 
>>>a fair amount of effort to stay informed of what’s going on around town, 
>>>but routinely visiting the city’s web-site is not my habit.  I’ve 
>>>suggested that ALL city notices, agendas, etc. be posted on V2020 as a 
>>>way to distribute information (especially I input is being solicited), 
>>>rather than forcing the public to search it out.  From my perspective, 
>>>the technology is here and it is not a significant effort to send a web 
>>>page to the community listserve (or others if there is more than 
>>>one.)  It may end up being like spam, but it’s useful to the 
>>>community.  By the way, I appreciate the info postings the sheriff’s 
>>>office has been sending out.  Is this idea whack or common sense?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Mark
>>>
>>>
>>>* * * * * * * * * * *
>>>
>>>
>>>Mark Seman, Architect
>>>
>>>
>>>Heather Seman, Landscape Architect
>>>
>>>
>>>Full Circle Studios
>>>
>>>
>>>1404 East 'F' Street
>>>
>>>
>>>Moscow, Idaho 83843
>>>
>>>
>>>v 208-883-3276
>>>
>>>
>>>f 208-883-0112
>>>
>>>
>>>FCS at Moscow.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>
>>>From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [ 
>>>mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On Behalf Of Kit Craine
>>>
>>>Sent: Friday, January 28, 2005 2:09 PM
>>>
>>>To: Saundra Lund
>>>
>>>Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com
>>>
>>>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Moscow Animal Ordinances
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Saundra,
>>>
>>>
>>>These are the result of a request I made to council during an open mic 
>>>period back in September, after my Old Dog and I were attacked one to 
>>>many times on public sidewalks by dogs that were legally loose in their 
>>>front yards at the time they decided to get us.
>>>
>>>
>>>My concern was requiring that dogs be confined, tethered, or leashed at 
>>>all time so pedestrians (and old dogs) can walk anywhere in town without 
>>>having to worry about collecting fang-holes. Randy Fife went a step 
>>>farther and recommended a complete revision of the animal control 
>>>ordinance. That was a good idea because the existing code is a bit out 
>>>of date. For example, it is more concerned with grazing animals being 
>>>herded down alleys than whether dogs are being fed and watered.
>>>
>>>
>>>The versions that are online are meant to generate discussion. At the 
>>>last Administrative Committee meeting, the discussion focused on having 
>>>a subcommittee that could throughly discuss and evaluate various topics. 
>>>Hopefully, it would have people from a variety of viewpoints so any 
>>>revisions can carry Moscow forward for many years to come.
>>>
>>>
>>>Kit Craine
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>----------
>>>
>>>_____________________________________________________
>>>
>>>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>>
>>>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>>
>>>                 http://www.fsr.net
>>>
>>>            mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>>>
>>>/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
>>>
>>>_____________________________________________________
>>>  List services made available by First Step Internet,
>>>  serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
>>>                 http://www.fsr.net
>>>            mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>>>¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
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