Fiscal Stress Permeates Government Accounting Rule Writer's Work

Trump administration cuts to federal funding are trickling down to cities and states across the country—and a top public-sector accounting leader is taking note.

Governmental Accounting Standards Board Chair Joel Black is leading his team in crafting public sector financial reporting rules at a time when local governments are assessing resource constraints following cuts to funding resulting from the 2025 GOP tax law.

The board establishes financial reporting and accounting rules for state and local governments that follow generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. Municipal bond insurers, taxpayer groups, and research institutes are among those that use government financial reports to analyze fiscal health.

The board's work during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic informs its efforts now during another period of strain for governments.

"It really honed us in to be sure we're working on only those things that are significant improvements, only those things our stakeholders are really asking us to work on," Black said.

Black's board is currently undertaking a project that aims to improve financial reporting rules for governments grappling with fears they won't be able to meet their financial obligations.

In this week's Talking Tax, Black sat down with Bloomberg Tax reporter Jorja Siemons to discuss GASB's financial stress-related project and the resource challenges accounting teams are facing.

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