Maine Municipal Association
Annual Report Competition Judging Criteria
Revised September 1994

Appearance

1. Cover - Cover should be attractive and make clear that it is the annual report of the municipality for a specified period of time.

2. Layout - Balance between illustration and text to draw attention and sustain reader interest, effective use of white space, placement and pertinence of tables, charts, and photos.

Content

1. Requirements contained in State Law - Must include items outlined in M.R.S.A. Title 30-A Sec. 2801 including a record of all financial transactions of the municipality during the last municipal year; a detailed statement of assets and liabilities including a list of delinquent taxpayers and the amount due from each; any engineering and survey reports relating to the boundaries of the municipality; a statement that the complete post-audit report for the last municipal year is on file at the municipal office as well as the auditor's name and address, auditor's comments, comparative balance sheet, and statement of departmental operations.

2. Summary of year's achievement - Reports should include narrative statements that summarize the state of municipal affairs during the last year including municipal operations, fiscal affairs, and external issues that have had a significant impact on the municipality as well as challenges and opportunities facing the municipality in the future. Narrative should include a letter of transmittal from the board of selectmen, councilors, or chief elected officer; and from the chief administrator of the municipality. It should also include reports from all department and committee heads.

3. Presentation of comparative statistics and data - Sufficient information on finances and in such form as to make clear to the reader the past, present and possible future fiscal status of the community; information that provides measures of the municipalities performance with regard to specific services.

Utility

1. Arrangement of material - Overall arrangement should provide a reader with a logical flow of information and avoid requiring the reader to have to jump around to find information.

2. Table of contents - Report should include a table of contents and/or an index which guides the reader to particular sections of the report.

3. Municipal Directory - A municipal directory that indicates who elected and appointed officials are and how they can be contacted, municipal office phone numbers and hours of operation, and committee descriptions and membership.

4. Brevity - Reports should be concise including only pertinent information.

5. Graphic presentation - Imaginative presentation of facts by chart, graph or photos. Such presentation should convey information relevant to the operation of the municipality.