From Pressure to Progress: GFOA Survey Reveals What Finance Teams Need Most

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recently released the results of a national survey, collecting insights from nearly 500 local governments. The findings highlight the practical challenges finance teams face every day—along with opportunities to build stronger systems for the future.

Lazaro Elias, Sales Executive at SmartFusion, shared his take:

“The GFOA report offers a clear snapshot of how local governments are handling their finances. There’s some solid information here that speaks to the day-to-day work many of us support.”

Let’s break down a few key takeaways.

Where Budget Teams Sit. And Why It Matters

Governments are structured in different ways. Some keep their budget teams within the finance department. Others connect them more closely to executive leadership or administration. This isn’t just an organizational detail—it shapes how budget decisions are made and how closely budget staff work with policymakers.

Annual Planning Is the Norm, but It’s Limiting

Most cities and counties still take a year-to-year approach when planning their budgets. While that helps maintain focus, it can make long-term strategy more difficult. GFOA encourages a shift to multi-year planning, but adoption is still limited. Without that broader view, it’s harder to anticipate and adjust to larger economic shifts.

Finance Teams Aim High, but Capacity Is Limited

Finance staff across the country have clear goals: support departments, serve the public, and build thoughtful financial plans. But resources don’t always match the mission. The survey found that many teams struggle to keep up, often stretched thin by staffing gaps, short timelines, and external pressures.

Common Concerns, Familiar Obstacles

What keeps finance leaders up at night? According to GFOA’s findings, it's a mix of unpredictable revenue, rising costs, and regulatory shifts—challenges that directly impact staffing, infrastructure, and services. Add public expectations to the mix, and it’s clear that teams need systems that help them stay adaptable.

Public Engagement: A Work in Progress

While more local governments want to involve the public in budgeting, many still face barriers in doing so effectively. Whether it's a lack of tools or uncertainty about the process, turning interest into action is a hurdle for many agencies.

Measuring Progress Isn’t Always Clear

Some teams rely on internal metrics or informal feedback to track success. Others use formal benchmarks. What’s missing is consistency—clear, comparable standards that show where improvements are needed and how governments are progressing.

Why This Survey Matters

This is the first time GFOA has collected national data on how local governments are applying its recommended practices. It gives public finance professionals a reference point—and a path forward.

At SmartFusion, this kind of visibility supports our mission. Understanding what local finance teams face helps us continue delivering solutions that align with their daily work and long-term needs. Whether it’s multi-year planning, public transparency, or streamlined reporting, our software is built to support better financial outcomes.

Source: Government Finance Officers Association – “Taking the Pulse of Local Government Finance”