The Business of Government - Doug Swanson (Fort Worth)
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Doug Swanson, reporter at The Dallas Morning News presents “The Business of Government” during the free Reynolds Center workshop, “Uncovering the Best Local Business Stories,” in Fort Worth. The daylong workshop covered tips on how to find good stories in the business of government, how to cover economic-development agencies at the state and local levels, and how to find public information on private companies. Presenters also discussed how to find stories in small business and publicly available databases, and how to localize national and international stories for your audience. This free training was specifically geared toward community journalists and generalists on tight budgets and small staffs. A previous workshop by the same name was held in Lexington, Ky. For more information about free training for business journalists, please visit businessjournalism.org.
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The Business of Government - Doug Swanson (Fort Worth)
- 1. Uncovering the Best Local Business Stories The Business of Government Doug Swanson, Dallas Morning News dswanson@dallasnews.com
- 2. How to Find ExciBng Stories That Hide in Boring Numbers Or, Panning for Gold in the Budgetary Wastelands
- 3. Your informaBon toolbox Texas Public InformaBon Act www.oag.state.tx.us www.foiK.org Don’t forget: These records belong to everyone! But someBmes you have to fight for them. Corporate filings www.sec.gov
- 4. EMMA, Your New Best Friend Electronic Municipal Market Access, a free website with municipal bond filings www.emma.msrb.org
- 5. Welcome to Pantego, Tex., A lovely town of about 2,000 people southeast of Fort Worth
- 6. Warning! Numbers Ahead! • Not as scary or mind-‐numbing as they might look.
- 7. TOWN OF PANTEGO ANNUAL BUDGET FY 2011/2012 CONSOLIDATION OF ALL FUNDS Fund Classification GOVERNMENT SPECIAL ENTERPRISE CONSOLIDATED FUNDS REVENUE FUNDS FUNDS FUNDS Estimated Fund,Balance,October,1,,2011 $,2,054,297 $,1,585,877 $,1,155,000 $,4,795,174 REVENUES Tax ,,2,143,000 ,,,,225,000 ,,2,368,000 Fees ,,,,321,000 ,,,,321,000 Fines ,,,,804,924 ,,,,,30,000 ,,,,834,924 Licences,&,Permits ,,,,,52,800 ,,,,,52,800 Interest, ,,,,,10,300 ,,,,,,3,050 ,,,,,,3,000 ,,,,,16,350 Other ,,,,197,500 ,,,,,42,900 ,,,,240,400 Sale,of,Water,and,Sewer,Services, ,,,,969,662 ,,,,969,662 TOTAL,REVENUES ,,3,529,524 ,,,,258,050 ,,1,015,562 ,,4,803,136 EXPENSES Personnel, ,,2,941,627 ,,2,941,627 Contractual ,,,,196,368 ,,,,303,345 ,,,,499,713 Supplies,and,Maintenance ,,,,262,974 ,,,,,75,766 ,,,,338,740 Utilities,and,Gasoline ,,,,224,420 ,,,,172,378 ,,,,396,798 Training,,Dues,and,Miscellaneous ,,,,,90,186 ,,,,,,6,000 ,,,,,,9,714 ,,,,105,900 Debt,Service ,,,,142,663 ,,,,142,663 Capital,Purchases ,,,,138,423 ,,,,,26,290 ,,,,164,713 Projects ,,,,,50,000 ,,,,248,000 ,,,,298,000 TOTAL,EXPENSES ,,3,996,661 ,,,,,82,290 ,,,,809,203 ,,4,888,154 Transfers,In ,,,,345,135 ,,,,,80,000 ,,,,425,135 Transfers,Out ,,,,(76,537) ,,,(348,598) ,,,(425,135) PEDC,Transfers,In ,,,,110,674 ,,,,110,674 Net,Change,in,Fund,Balance $,,,(11,328) $,,,,99,223 $,,,(62,239) $,,,,25,656 Estimated,Fund,Balance,09/30/2012 $,2,042,969 $,1,685,100 $,1,092,761 $,4,820,830
- 8. Death by Pie Chart
- 9. Even More Numbers Ahead! • Remember: It’s your money we’re talking about. • Don’t be inBmidated! • Have paBence • Ask quesBons • Look for variaBons
- 10. There’s a story in here somewhere
- 13. The NiYy-‐GriYy
- 14. The poetry of small asset purchases
- 15. Police budget
- 16. And more police
- 17. Municipal court
- 18. Miscellaneous supplies: the fascinaBng world of storm drains and animal control
- 19. Salaries—everyone wants to know
- 20. Other places to look • Court filings • Zoning change applicaBons • Property transacBons • Central Appraisal District records • Road improvements and sewer connecBons • Audits
- 21. Does your community have: • A community college? • A public hospital? • Nursing homes? • Foster care providers? • A supported living center? • A state or federal prison? • Gas or oil drilling? • A toxic waste dump? • A state park? • A border with Mexico?
- 22. Using State and Federal Regulatory Agencies for Local Stories: A Small Sample • OSHA • EPA/TCEQ • Texas DADS • Texas DSHS • Texas Railroad Commission • Texas Medical Board • U.S. Department of JusBce • Inspector General reports
- 23. Economic Development CorporaBons • What’s its purpose? • Who’s running it? • Most important, who is paying for it?
- 24. How to check out an EDC • Form 990 • Texas Secretary of State • Board minutes • Board meeBngs • Contracts with government • Vendors • Audits
- 25. Don’t Give Up!