Maryland GFOA joins opposition to the GASB's performance initiative.

• Position: Letter to the Editor - Brief Article

The Maryland Government Finance Officers Association and its 773 members join the Government Finance Officers Association and the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers in supporting performance measurement as part of the budget process, while strongly opposing any initiatives by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board to set standards in this area.

Performance measurement is inherently a policy matter-not an accounting matter. Performance is part of the budget process, which is linked to public policy goals and is the responsibility of elected officials. The GASB's role "...is to establish and improve standards of state and local government accounting and financial reporting that will result in useful information for users of financial reports and guide and educate the public, including...