The WA Local Government Association (WALGA) has welcomed Local Government Minister, John Carey’s announcement, on Monday, 13 June regarding more simplified financial reporting processes for Local Governments, which will be phased in from July 1 this year.
WALGA has long been advocating for a more streamlined system on behalf of its member Councils to ease the administrative time commitment and costs of financial reporting.
While the new process will be streamlined, all financial statements will still be audited by the Office of the Auditor General to ensure that there is transparency and accountability for all ratepayers regarding their Councils’ finances.
WALGA President Cr Karen Chappel said that the Association had been advocating for the required level of detail in annual financial reports to be re-assessed, especially for small and medium sized Councils.
“The new requirements will reflect the individual Council’s scale of operations so that it will not only make it easier for them to produce their financial reports, but it will for easier for residents and ratepayers to understand them.” President Chappel said.
“The fact that the new reports will be quicker and easier to produce should also cost less, further benefitting ratepayers.”
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