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BackgroundThis assignment aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice by allowing you to examine governmental accounting and reporting based on your chosen city. InstructionsTo complete your ACFR Research Analysis Paper, select a city of your choosing and access that city’s government website to download its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) required to complete your written analysis, which is comprised of two parts. Review the resources provided within Week 3 of your Course Resources. Your research analysis paper must address the following: Introduction and Applications 1. As you prepare your research analysis paper, make sure to: a. Include an introduction highlighting the purpose of the paper and an intro to the city you selected. b. Include graphs or charts in the body of the report to compare topics, data, statistics, and anything else you need to present to support your data analysis or to help the reader understand your point. Do not just say it is there; give examples of its presentation and implications. c. Complete your analysis using two levels: i. The quality of the reports in terms of meeting Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) or Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) award requirements, including how “user friendly” it is in your opinion (support your opinion). ii. Include some data analysis such as where the money is spent, how healthy the current revenue stream is, the reserves, how well inter-period equity issues are addressed, etc. d. Review the format and the presentation of the ACFR, which should include mention of significant differences between the conclusion of your overall assessment. Part 1: Budget Analysis As you complete your budget analysis, make sure to: 1. Complete a budget analysis using visuals as well as text to address the following: a. What major concerns are addressed in the budget document? 2. Look at the General fund budget overall. Compare revenues and Expenditures budgeted to: a. Determine which Department consumes the most general government resources (support your selection). For that department, answer these questions: i. What are the department’s goals and purpose? How does that match with what you would think the citizens Expect? ii. Are there revenues specific to the department? iii. What are the budgeted Expenditures? Provide Examples from the budget. iv. If a 15% decrease is to be made for this department, you have chosen where you would cut the budget. Explain why and what you think the overall effect of this decrease would be on the department. v. Anything else you think is significant about this department’s budget? Part 2: ACFR Analysis To complete the ACFR analysis, make sure to: 1. Read the Transmittal Letter, Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), and notes. For additional reference, look for official reports or financial information, such as reports to the Council about the ACFR. a. Provide an analysis of the ACFR using text and graphics as if you were presenting your analysis to someone to inform them about ACFRs in general and this city in particular. b. Include the answers to the following questions in your analysis. Be sure to also conform to the guidelines for the paper overall presented in the first section of these instructions and support your opinions with references or examples. i. Has the city received an award for the ACFR? If so, you don’t need to spend time analyzing conformity with GASB 34 requirements. ii. What details are available in the notes for the statements that would be useful to a reader (citizen, potential commercial operation, etc.)? iii. What is the financial situation for this government? Support your comments with examples from the ACFR. Is there sufficient information to determine the financial health of the government? iv. Compare the information provided in the ACFR and the budget for this city, including a review of the budget vs. actual statements in the ACFR. Length: This assignment should be 8-10 pages (excluding the title and reference page). References: Include as many scholarly resources as necessary. Additional ResourcesGradingThis assignment is worth 100 points and is due on Sunday. Refer to the rubric for more specifics on how this will be graded. |
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| GRADING RUBICS: |
Accomplished
Introduction is exceptionally engaging, providing profound clarity and relevance to the paper’s purpose and city selection.
Introduction effectively sets the stage for the paper and engages the reader in the city selection.
Introduction effectively sets the stage for the paper and engages the reader in the city selection.
Introduction lacks clarity or relevance to the paper’s purpose and city selection.
Introduction is missing or not evident.
/ 25
Visuals are exceptionally integrated, enhancing data analysis with a wide range of graphs and charts, thoroughly explained and highly relevant.
Multiple graphs or charts are included and effectively support data analysis, with clear explanation and relevance.
Some graphs or charts are included, but their relevance or explanation is limited.
Graphs or charts are incomplete or irrelevant to the analysis.
Graphs or charts are missing or not evident.
/ 25
Analysis is highly comprehensive, addressing both the budget and general analysis of the ACFR with meticulous detail and abundant supporting evidence.
Analysis addresses the budget and general analysis of the ACFR with some detail and supporting evidence.
Analysis addresses only one aspect of the budget or general analysis of the ACFR with limited detail or supporting evidence.
Analysis lacks depth and fails to address either level effectively.
Analysis is missing.
/ 25
The paper is well organized with no spelling and grammatical errors. References are correctly cited and relevant to the topic.
The paper is organized with minimal spelling and grammatical errors. References are correctly cited and relevant to the topic.
The paper lacks clear organization and contains several spelling and grammatical errors. References are present but not consistently cited.
The paper is poorly organized with numerous spelling and grammatical errors, and lacks coherence. References are missing or not correctly cited.
Paper is not submitted, or excessive errors make this paper unreadable.
/ 15
The paper is within the required length range. References are included and adequately support the analysis.
The paper is slightly below or above the required length. References are included but may lack depth or relevance.
The paper is below or above the required length. References are included but lack depth or relevance.
The paper is significantly below or above the required length. References are missing or insufficient.
References are not included.
/ 10
/ 100
Overall Score
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
I CHOOSE THE CITY OF BRAWLEY, CALIFORNIA. IT IS MY NEIGHBORING CITY.