The truth about government finances through the lens of accounting, not politics. 

Waste of the Day Report, the financial state of California, and the City of Dallas $6.9 billion in debt, and so much more.

This time of year makes me nostalgic for a bygone era. 

Am I the only one? 

Every once in a while, one must ask, what is my purpose? Given the state of the world these days, it seems like a highly appropriate question. 

So what is Truth in Accounting’s purpose? 

As I see it, in this vast sea of politics, Truth in Accounting serves to untangle the complexities of the obscure world of government accounting. It’s a topic most people fail to understand and might find boring or too complex. YET accounting holds the key to government transparency and accountability, which is the foundation of a representative form of government.

Now Available

Our annual report on state fiscal health. Debt among the states improved slightly. Going from $1.2 trillion down to $938.6 billion. 

What happened? 

How did your state do? Read the full report below. 

https://www.truthinaccounting.org/news/detail/financial-state-of-the-states-2023

Today, I want to reiterate Truth in Accounting's message. 

Government accounting is complex—all the more reason to welcome its scrutiny in our representative form of government.

The following concepts highlight various ways government accounting practices and standards can be manipulated, ultimately affecting transparency, fiscal accountability, and the ability to make informed decisions about government finances.

Full Accrual vs. Cash-Basis Accounting Discrepancy: The government uses cash-basis accounting in its budgetary process, which records transactions when cash is received or disbursed. This leads to discrepancies in reporting actual financial health, as it doesn’t account for future obligations or revenue expected to be received.

Happy Friday!

Because you opened this email, it tells us that you care about your country, state, community, and family. You invest in knowledge. You invest in understanding what's happening and are willing to support workable solutions.

You are a gift to society. Thank you! 

And, because of you, understandable and reliable government financial numbers are accessible to everyone! 

Hi! My name is Amber Saxon, I am the current content creator and social media marketer for Truth in Accounting. I recently graduated from Bowling Green State University in April with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration specializing in Marketing and minoring in Fashion Merchandising and Product Development.

"Summer is coming to a close, students are filling up classrooms, state legislators are on hiatus, and the presidential election is now in full swing. 
What a 2023 so far, and it’s more than half over!

We’ve come a long way this year at Truth in Accounting; our beautiful sign is up at the University of Denver, and we are in education mode. We are planning our events for the next academic year - more to come about that. We are teaching a class and have hired new interns to help with our research efforts. This partnership continues to be a win and that's a win for you too!"

Hello, I’m Anna Broerman, the graphic design intern for Truth in Accounting. I am a third-year student at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. I am studying visual communication technology, which combines photography, videography, interactive media, and print (or graphic design). 

Sometimes, just to stay positive, we joke about government accounting. 

We often use fun metaphors like “government finances are like being set up on a blind date, and the only thing you know is they are nice” or the famous line in The Wizard of Oz, "Don't look behind the curtain." 

But our favorite is “The government is financially catfishing us.”