Minnesota car mileage tax?

Minnesota to consider taxing miles cars have driven. http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/12/25/minnesota-may-start-taxing-drivers/

The best best American cities to live in

http://247wallst.com/special-report/2014/09/17/americas-50-best-cities-to-live/ A list of cities with the methodology used to compile it provided.

Schweitzer on service to be happy

I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve." -- Albert Schweitzer, French philosopher and physician

The States Data Lab

http://www.statedatalab.org/ Retrieve financial data on each of the 50 states.

GASB gives preliminary viess on leases

http://journalofaccountancy.com/News/201411402.htm and fiduciary responsibilities for state and local governments. Links to the documents views are in the attached article

GASB proposes disclosures for tax abatement agreements

http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/News/201411250.htm The proposal is open for comment through June 30. Disclosure items as to amount, number of agreements, general information such as provision to recapture abatements are required. These incentives, typically to stimulate economic development can impact a government's revenue stream.

Nonprofit resource

https://thenonprofitmentor.wordpress.com/ This blog Nonprofit Mentor, has some links to resources that may be helpful.

AICPA provides Federal Government resources.

http://www.aicpa.org/Advocacy/Pages/CPAsInsight.aspx There are a host of resources and videos at this link of fiscal sustainabilty of the U.S. government. The videos are titled What's at Stake?

States that collect Amazon sales tax

http://online.wsj.com/articles/states-that-make-amazon-pay-sales-taxes-1412185657?mod=djemCFO_h Check out the map for states, and read about the possibility of this in your state's future.

Public Sector Financial Accounting Framework approved

http://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accounting-news/public-sector-financial-reporting-framework-approved-72037-1.html IPSAS expects this to be released by end of October 2014. The final four chapters have been completed of this initiative.

Unclaimed and abandoned property

http://www.aicpa.org/Publications/TaxAdviser/2014/september/Pages/SALT_Sept2014.aspx This article address the issues around escheats. States may scramble to get to the unclaimed property as a source of revenue; technically it is not a tax, and yet may be an important source of revenue to any given jurisdiction. This article highlights some of the issues in this area.

8 bond downgrades under Governor Christie

http://watchdogwire.com/new-jersey/2014/09/10/bums-rush-new-jerseys-credit-rating-downgraded-for-record-eighth-time-under-christie/ The response includes a reference to the bondraters as "bums".

Kansas faces SEC charges

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/11/sec-kansas-pensions-idUSL2N0QH15Z20140811 related to nondisclosure of pension underfunding issues to bond investors in offerings dating back to 2009 and 2010.

What is the real amount owed by the Federal government?

http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoodman/2014/08/07/how-much-do-we-really-owe/ This blog post discusses the extent of the Federal deficit and clarifies the amount of debt.

U.S. Disability Insurance Program running low

http://www.accountingtoday.com/news/government-news/disability-insurance-program-running-low-on-funds-71473-1.html The scheduled depletion date for Social Security’s Disability Insurance Trust Fund is only two years away, in late 2016, according to a new government report.

Rainy day funds

http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2014/07/15/building-state-rainy-day-funds-policies-to-harness-revenue According to the Pew report, 12 States have placed requirements to increase reserves, depending on changes in revenues. But is it enough to weather possible downturns? See this report.

Which states have the highest student debt?

The following article includes some comparison of state data. http://247wallst.com/special-report/2014/07/02/ten-states-with-the-most-student-debt/

GAO identifies internal control issues with IRS

http://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs_watch/gao-sees-need-for-improvement-in-irss-internal-controls-71213-1.html The GAO report is located http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/664599.pdf

Is your city or state business friendly

http://cdn-1.thumbtackstatic.com/media/_survey/friendliness-2014/friendliness_2014.pdf This survey (Thumbtack.com and Kaufman Foundation) looking at what makes small business friendliness in terms of regulations and ease of business organization and operation. This 45 page documents ranks states and cities in the appendices

Slow growing states

http://247wallst.com/special-report/2014/06/13/americas-slowest-growing-state-economies/ Who are the slow growing states and what do they have in common?

GASB OPEB proposal and expected impact

This article discusses some of the impact of the GASB proposal. Huge obligations, and changed actuarial method are two of the items discussed. http://journalofaccountancy.com/News/201410332.htm Also here is a link to materials about the standard. http://www.gasb.org/cs/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=GASB%2FPage%2FGASBBridgePage&cid=1176164129754

NFP specialization and CPAs

This article indicates some key developments in the area of NFP and accountants http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/News/201410317.htm

Bond sales slowing despite low interest rates

This article talks about a nervousness to incur bond debt by issuers, and a corresponding decrease in capital improvements as a result of the actions. Impact on yields is addressed. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/02/us-usa-municipals-supply-idUSKBN0ED0Z920140602

NY City bond sale

The first bond sale since the city's proposed budget was called "credit negative" by Moody's. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-09/nyc-bond-sale-gives-investors-vote-on-de-blasio-budget.html

Public Pension Shortfalls in excess of $1 trillion

Study was based on 150 pension plans. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-06-10/u-dot-s-dot-public-pension-shortfalls-exceed-1-trillion

GASB pension reporting

This article is a reference to the AICPA white paper regarding the pension numbers. http://journalofaccountancy.com/News/201410247.htm

U.S. Department of Defense audit issues

Fierce government reports the concerns around next year's efforts for audit by department of defense. For that article see http://www.fiercegovernment.com/story/hale-dod-wont-produce-full-auditable-financial-statement-sept-30/2014-05-14?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal For a link to actual hearings, statements and testimony, see http://www.hsgac.senate.gov/hearings/improving-financial-management-at-the-department-of-defense

FASAB seeking comments

This is a request for an extension of time for audit standards to address the changes in long-term projections being moved from RSI to basic information. http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/News/201410059.htm

GASB hierarchy proposal

The proposal suggests a move from four categories to two.  http://journalofaccountancy.com/News/20149710.htm

2014 imperatives for Cities

Fragile fiscal health takes the number 1 slot in this report from the national league of cities.   Take a look at the identified list.
http://www.nlc.org/Documents/Find%20City%20Solutions/City-Solutions-and-Applied-Research/10CriticalImperatives-web_final.pdf

GASB published implementation guide for pensions

http://journalofaccountancy.com/News/20149524.htm

States with lowest property taxes

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/01/26/10-states-with-the-lowest-property-taxes-in-americ.aspx

The article has a link to the study within to the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center where the full report was completed.

A data resource

http://www.statedatalab.org/

The best and worst run cities

http://247wallst.com/special-report/2014/01/02/the-best-and-worst-run-cities-in-america-2/