As American Recovery and Reinvestment Act programs and funding reach state and local governments, CPAs will want to take a renewed look at internal controls for their organizations. State and local governments with new programs or programs being expanded under ARRA could experience significant changes in the control environment and risk levels. This whit paper describes some of what may need done

http://fmcenter.aicpa.org/NR/rdonlyres/E3E77384-E4BA-4F90-BAE4-FEAE8569CECB/0/FINAL_Understanding_Internal_Control_Services_government.pdf

FASAB Fiscal Sustainability Disclosure Requirements

FASAB issues a new standard designed to enable readers to determine whether future budgetary resources will sufficiently sustain public services and meet obligations as they come due. It is FASAB 36 and it will be fully implemented by fiscal year 2013. Starting in 2010 all information may be presented as required supplementary disclosures. The Standard itself Reporting Comprehensive Long term Fiscal Projections for the US Government is located at this link http://www.fasab.gov/pdffiles/sffas_36_.pdf

The State of the States

The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government has a website chock full of data related to the nation's states. This organization's mission focuses and trackes state fiscal conditions, tax policies, fiscal capabilities, and spending trends. One scary report from July 2009 shows
"State Tax Decline in Early 2009 Was the Sharpest on Record" A wealth of data here
http://www.rockinst.org/government_finance/

Governmental Audit Quality Center

This is a firm membership site but it has resources also available that do not require membership.
http://gaqc.aicpa.org/

Universities should do more with less

http://cjonline.com/news/state/2009-08-28/auditors_seek_university_austerity

In these times of shrinking budgets, Kansas State auditors propose ways to trim budget. You can't please everyone, and I believe this article would create debate among students and faculty. What do you think?

Popular Scoops

http://www.govzine.com/
This is a zine with articles diverse pertaining to government topics. For news on the world of government, visitors should check out GovZine. Govzine is a social news aggregation service focused on various aspects of government, including updates from industry websites and weblogs. First-time visitors can check out the "Popular Scoops" area which brings together recent materials culled from hundreds of different online news sources. Visitors can also arrange the "Popular Scoops" by week, month, or year. Job-seekers will enjoy access to the "Recent Jobs" postings, which are displayed on the left-hand side of the homepage. Along the top of the homepage, users can look at topic-specific postings via the sections "Technology", "Workforce", "Procurement", and "Management". Also, visitors can sign up receive the weekly top stories from GovZine.

Students scramble as States cut Financial Aid

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203674704574336420044733980.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

The impact of tight State government budgets on college students is evident. Slash slash slash on some state financial aid funds. What are students doing in response - responding with varied options to find money elsewhere or slow down their progress