data vs. information

["Steve Cooke" <scooke@uidaho.edu>]

Dear Visionaries,
Mike Curly said: "As a public entity the school district provides an annual
audit of its $16 Million budget. So, there is a lot of data."
	The objectives of a financial report of a local government entity are 1) to
compare actual financial results with legally adopted budget; 2) to assess
the financial condition and results of operations; 3) to assist in
determining compliance with finance related laws; and 4) to assist in
evaluating efficiency and effectiveness. (Wilson, Kattelus, & Hay,
Accounting for Gov't ... p. 7)
	My experience in general is (and Wilson, Kattelus & Hay agree) that the
typical local government audit report is very good at objectives 1) and 3)
and remarkably bad at objectives 2) and 4). Therefore I would agree w/ Mike
Curly that there is a lot of data in a school district audit report. But my
guess is that there is precious little information in it, particularly of
the type needed to evaluate financial conditions, efficiency, and
effectiveness.
To meet objectives 2) and 4) would require a Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report as defined by the Government Accounting Standards Board. Does Moscow
School District issue such a report? I would be surprised if it did. This is
the problem I my opinion. I do not know and cannot analyze the current
situation well enough with the information at hand to make an informed
decision about the future. In the absence of information, passions (or power
play) rule the day.

Stephen Cooke