Local Government Investment Pool Continues Strong Performance
For its most recent annual update on how Washington state invests surplus funds of more than 500 local governments, the Office of the State Treasurer (OST) has earned a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. The honor was granted earlier this month by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, for OST’s Fiscal Year 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) on Washington’s Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP). State Treasurer Duane Davidson hailed the honor, and said it reflects the diligence and professionalism of OST’s staff.
Davidson said, “Fiscal 2016 marked the 20th year in a row that our state’s Local Government Investment Pool’s financial report has received this prestigious recognition. This honor was earned for work done during the tenure of my predecessor James McIntire, and earlier versions of the award were won by OST under a series of his predecessors. It is a window into – and strong reminder of – the professionalism and dedication of our operation at OST. Our team of 65 staff members smoothly handles enormous responsibilities. They keep state tax dollars safe, secure and liquid; and provide banking, investment and borrowing services for the state, and local governments.”
Davidson added, “Our office’s trustworthy accounting serves to daylight our work for the public, and goes above and beyond baseline professional standards. Accountability is more than just a talking point, it’s a way of doing the public’s business.”
The association’s criteria for awarding the certificate emphasize “the spirit of transparency and full disclosure,” and recognizing “individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal.” The awards are granted after review by select association staff and a special panel of public sector finance experts, other finance professionals, independent auditors, and academics.
The OST report shows that the state’s LGIP had an average balance invested during FY 2016 of $10.5 billion. It yielded net investment income of $33.8 million. That was $27 million, or five-fold more than what had been expected under the industry-standard benchmark.
Washington state lawmakers created the LGIP in 1986 so that eligible government taxing bodies could invest their temporary cash surpluses at scale, to earn a competitive rate of return while still maintaining 100 percent liquidity. Currently, more than 530 local governments invest in Washington’s LGIP. They include all 39 counties, 234 towns and cities, 160 special taxing districts, 30 community colleges and universities, seven state agencies, and 24 others.
Matt Rosenberg: Matt.Rosenberg@tre.wa.gov 360-902-9040
Your support matters.
Public service journalism is important today as ever. If you get something from our coverage, please consider making a donation to support our work. Thanks for reading our stuff.
