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 MACPA Task Force Plays Vital Role in Michigan Reinvention In a very early response to the election of Michigan’s first CPA Governor, Rick Snyder, and his call for significant reforms, the Michigan Association of CPAs launched the MACPA Involvement in Michigan’s Turnaround Task Force. Leveraging the unique expertise and extensive knowledge of Michigan’s CPA profession, this new Task Force is effectively facilitating the involvement of Association members in the efforts of the Governor, the Legislature, and other organizations to restore Michigan to a state of fiscal stability and economic viability. Jump-Start to a Citizen-Friendly CAFR The Task Force sprung into quick action in the autumn of 2010 with their first project – providing the Snyder Administration, Business Leaders for Michigan and the Anderson Economic Group with recommendations on how to create a “citizen-friendly” version of the comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for the State of Michigan. Assembling some of the state’s leading experts in governmental accounting and auditing, including financial professionals from local governmental units who have previously developed similar documents, the Task Force provided significant input that turned out to be fundamental to the Governor’s January 2011 release of the Citizen’s Guide to Michigan’s Financial Health. Holding a Summit to Help Local Governments In the Spring of 2011, shortly after the passage of the State’s fiscal year 2011-2012 budget, it was clear that Michigan’s local governments would be met with a new reality with regard to revenue and budgeting – and again, the MACPA Involvement in Michigan’s Turnaround Task Force went to work. In partnership with the Michigan Association of Counties, the Michigan Township Association and the Michigan Municipal League, a subcommittee of Task Force members developed an educational forum for local government financial managers and policy makers. Scheduled for Thursday, December 1 in Lansing, the Local Government Leadership Summit on Financial Matters promises to provide tangible, applicable knowledge and best practices for change management and financial reform for local units. Read more about MACPA’s involvement in the creation of this important Summit in this article. Seven Workgroups Forge Ahead on Other Issues Task Force and MACPA leadership met with Snyder Administration officials to identify specific topic-areas and initiatives in which the profession’s expertise would add value. This meeting resulted in the development of seven additional topic-area workgroups. Workgroup on Form Consolidation/Elimination – developed to work with the Department of Treasury with regard to the request for input on the potential consolidation and elimination of some of the approximately 4,600 forms. Workgroup on Revenue Sharing Formula – developed to work with Snyder Administration officials in examining the formula for revenue sharing to local governmental units. Workgroup on Consolidation of Local Units and Segments – developed to work with Snyder Administration officials on the potential development of templates for use in consolidation of local governmental units and segments. Workgroup on Transportation Funding Formula – developed to work with Snyder Administration officials in examining the formula for transportation funding (Public Act 51). Workgroup on MEDC Audit Process Review – developed to work with the MEDC to review and comment on the MEGA audit process. Workgroup on MEDC Economic Gardening – developed to work with the MEDC to assist with efforts on economic gardening through the Pure Michigan Business Connect and other programs. The final workgroup, on Local Government Financial Forecasting, recently completed their work in providing the Department of Treasury with an advisory letter regarding the potential design and implementation of a tool for local units to provide basic financial forecasting data to the State. Different workgroups are at different stages of their initiatives, some awaiting direction from the Snyder Administration and/or the Legislature, others having taken significant steps – but all armed, ready, able and willing to volunteer their knowledge and expertise in adding the MACPA’s mark on Michigan’s turnaround. Top
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| PO Box 5068 Troy, MI 48007-5068 Phone: 248.267.3700 Fax: 248.267.3737 E-mail: macpa@michcpa.org | |
