A look in the mirror.

• Position: Perspectives: membership survey results - Government Finance Officers Association

The GFOA conducts a member survey every two years to help identify demographic information, demand for services, topical interests, and communication preferences. These data are used in the organization's strategic planning and budgeting effort, and the GFOA would like to thank all the active members who participated and provided input this fall as part of the 2013 survey.

Overall, the GFOA has approximately 16,000 active members from every state and province in the United States and Canada. The largest percentage of members is from cities (47 percent), followed by special districts (25 percent), counties (21 percent), and state/federal/retirement systems (7 percent). Members work for governments of all sizes--approximately 36 percent percent in governments that serve fewer than 50,000 people, 37 percent in governments serving 50,000 to 300,000, and 27 percent in governments serving more than 300,0000. Within those organizations, 42 percent of members hold the title of chief financial officer; 26 percent, accountant, controller, or comptroller; 10 percent, budget director or budget analyst; and 4.0 percent, treasurer.

The survey also highlighted several trends. As new members join the GFOA and others retire, the overall membership is increasingly made up of women. More than 65 percent of members who joined fewer than 2 years ago are women, and overall, approximately 57 percent of the GFOA membership is female.

The GFOA membership is highly educated. More than 50 percent of members have graduate degrees, and 58 percent hold CPA certification.

The survey also shed light on the challenges members face in their local jurisdictions and on how members use GFOA's services. Members cited the following as the largest challenges facing their organizations in the near future:

1. Expenditures outpacing revenue growth.

2. Attracting and retaining qualified employees.

3. Regulatory and reporting requirements.

4. Pension and...