GASB Forms Leases Implementation Guide Consultative Group
GASB Chair David A. Vaudt recently announced the appointment of a consultative group to assist with the development of an implementation guide for GASB Statement No. 87, Leases. The members of the consultative group are:- Mark Campbell, Executive Director, California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission
- Susan Convery, Professor of Practice—Accounting and Information Systems, Michigan State
- Keith Dagen, Director of Finance, City of Richardson, TX
- Cameron Harmon, Disbursements and Business Services Manager, Chicago Public Schools
- Vicki Vogel-Hellenbrand, Partner, National Public Sector Leader, Baker Tilly
- Kathy Ketchum, Principal Financial Accountant—Office of Controller and Accounting, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
- Lealan Miller, Partner, Eide Bailly
- Anna Quichocho, State Financial Consultant—Office of Financial Management, State of Washington
- John Schubert, Senior Director of Finance, Tucson Airport Authority, AZ
- Gilbert Southwell III, Vice President and Senior Municipal Research Analyst, Wells Capital Management
- Leigh Taylor, Director, Quality Assurance, Mississippi Office of the State Auditor
- Ted Williamson, Partner—Assurance Service Group, RubinBrown
About the Project
The objective of the project is to publish question-and-answer guidance to assist state and local governments and other stakeholders in addressing implementation guidance issues associated with Statement No. 87, Leases. Guidance would be limited to clarifying, explaining, or elaborating on the standards contained in the Statement.
What Do Consultative Groups Do?
The GASB assembles consultative groups at the discretion of the GASB chair for projects expected to lead to implementation guidance. Consultative groups serve as a sounding board, providing suggestions and feedback to the GASB staff as materials are developed. As part of this process, consultative group members review drafts of materials prepared by GASB staff, commenting as appropriate.
How Are Participants Selected?
Consultative groups are officially appointed by the GASB chair. Consultative group members typically have a particular expertise or experience with the issue being researched and are capable of articulating the views of other, similar stakeholders.
Members primarily are identified from the GASB’s database of stakeholders, including persons who have indicated a willingness to volunteer for a consultative group. The GASB attempts to maintain an appropriate balance of financial statement preparers, auditors, and users on each consultative group.
Within each group, the GASB seeks to include a variety of types of stakeholders, such as finance officers from state governments, localities, and business-type activities; auditors in government and private practice; and users from the municipal bond industry, citizen and taxpayer groups, legislative bodies, and the academic community. The GASB also tries to balance other factors that may be relevant, such as governments of various sizes and geographic areas of the country.