This Monday, the Virginia Coalition for Open Government is co-hosting an event with Sen. Mark Warner's staff to discuss the recently enacted Digital Accountability & Transparency Act, aka DATAct.

The goal of DATAct is to standardize federal spending reporting and to put it all online into an easily searchable and downloadable format. As Sen. Warner told us at a sit-down with VCOG's board earlier this month, there is a wide disparity among federal agencies in how they classify and report spending data, making it difficult for the public to oversee spending, and making it equally hard for recipients of that reporting data to manage and maintain it.

The DATAct is a federal statute, but it matters to you, as state agency and local government records managers, too:

Because of the trickle-down relationship with the federal government, and because many state and local agencies receive federal grants that must be reported, states increasingly will be asked to follow federal models. The earlier you know about it, the easier it is to plan ahead.

In addition, even if not mandated by the state, principles of good records management -- saving money, space and time -- are addressed by DATAct  in terms of streamlining financial reporting.

A great shorthand reference to the DATAct can be found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/106567106/DATA-Act-One-Sheeter

Thanks, and we hope to see you there!

Megan Rhyne

Virginia Coalition for Open Government, Executive Director

540-353-8264

P.O. Box 2576

Williamsburg VA  23187