Uncovering  the  Best  Local  Business  Stories  

The  Business  of  Government  

Doug  Swanson,  Dallas  Morning  News  dswanson@dallasnews.com  

 

How  to  Find  ExciBng  Stories  That  Hide  in  Boring  Numbers  

Or,  Panning  for  Gold  in  the  Budgetary  Wastelands  

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        

EMMA,  Your  New  Best  Friend  

 Electronic  Municipal  Market  Access,  a  free  website  with  municipal  bond  filings    www.emma.msrb.org  

Welcome  to  Pantego,  Tex.,    A  lovely  town  of  about  2,000  people  

southeast  of  Fort  Worth  

Warning!  Numbers  Ahead!  •  Not  as  scary  or  mind-­‐numbing  as  they  might  look.  

8 page (09/26/2011)

TOWN OF PANTEGOANNUAL BUDGET FY 2011/2012CONSOLIDATION OF ALL FUNDS

Fund Classification GOVERNMENT SPECIAL ENTERPRISE CONSOLIDATED FUNDS REVENUE FUNDS FUNDS

FUNDSEstimated

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$, 4,820,830$,

Death  by  Pie  Chart  

Even  More  Numbers  Ahead!  

•  Remember:  It’s  your  money  we’re  talking  about.  

•  Don’t  be  inBmidated!  •  Have  paBence  •  Ask  quesBons  •  Look  for  variaBons  

There’s  a  story  in  here  somewhere  

The  NiYy-­‐GriYy  

The  poetry  of  small  asset  purchases  

Police  budget  

And  more  police  

Municipal  court  

Miscellaneous  supplies:  the  fascinaBng  world  of  storm  drains  and  animal  control    

Salaries—everyone  wants  to  know  

Other  places  to  look  

•  Court  filings  •  Zoning  change  applicaBons  •  Property  transacBons  •  Central  Appraisal  District  records  •  Road  improvements  and  sewer  connecBons  •  Audits  

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?  

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  

Economic  Development  CorporaBons  

•  What’s  its  purpose?  •  Who’s  running  it?  •  Most  important,  who  is  paying  for  it?  

How  to  check  out  an  EDC  

•  Form  990  •  Texas  Secretary  of  State  •  Board  minutes  •  Board  meeBngs  •  Contracts  with  government  •  Vendors  •  Audits  

Don’t  Give  Up!