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Unexpected revenue shortfalls that occur during budget execution create serious problems for public agencies and programs. This is especially true for agencies and programs that rely upon a single source of revenue. This article implements a revenue monitoring process that combines ideas from statistical process control and exploratory data analysis into a spreadsheet environment. The methodology builds on principles used to monitor manufacturing processes. This simple application helps public managers detect revenue surpluses and deficits early enough in the budget execution process to take corrective action. The methodology also adapts to the data problems and avoids many of the pitfalls that arise when using 'real world' budget data. An example of the benefits of this methodology is offered using an example of a state agency funded by a single revenue source.

The cost approach is the most usable method for valuing specialized assets. A cost approach value is inadequate unless it is adjusted for total depreciation. The most difficult adjustment is for economic obsolescence. While directly measuring physical decline in asset utilization gives the most accurate measure of income shortfall, direct measures either rarely exist or are impossible to estimate accurately using traditional accounting data. Failure to account for the effects of operating leverage by using a utilization measure to determine economic obsolescence underestimates the degree of obsolesence. For any asset a physical measure of both designed capacity and current utilization either exists or can be determined from existing data. (Reprinted by permission of the publisher.), Appraisal is the art of developing substitutes for actual market values. Appraised values, although called fair market values, are not market values. Market values are ex-post, or after-the-fact, values determined [...]

As faculty training pre-service, in-service, and executive students for opportunities in public service, we are often asked for career advice. We suspect this is a common occurrence for faculty members, [...]

This paper contributes to two strands in the property tax literature. One thread considers the effects of full disclosure requirements or 'truth in taxation' on the rate of property tax growth. The second studies the determinants of assessment uniformity. This article focuses on the role of full disclosure in changing administrative incentives and improving the uniformity of the property tax. A panel of 29 Utah counties over a 32-year period is used in a TSCS analysis. Findings suggest there is substantial evidence that full disclosure improved uniformity in Utah, but limited evidence that it restrained property tax growth.

Because of difficulties collecting sales taxes on Internet sales, several states have engaged in an effort (the Streamlined Sales Tax Project, SSTP) to simplify their sales tax systems. One hope among SSTP proponents is that a simplified system will result in Internet vendors voluntarily collecting the sales tax. We address two issues: Will states adopt the extensive reforms proposed by the SSTP? Will vendors voluntarily collect the sales tax? We argue that states are unlikely to adopt extensive reforms, but if they did, many vendors would voluntarily collect sales taxes.

Because most government entities struggle with health benefits inflation, appropriate cost-management strategies are essential in an era of growing demands on state and local budgets. This research describes a case [...]

Property Tax Exemption for Nonprofit Hospitals Summary This article discusses management practices that hospital administrators can use to minimize the exposure to property taxation. First, the results of a national [...]