FocusForward is a comprehensive budgetary planning tool designed specificially for local governments.

FocusForward allows municipalities to forecast future revenues and expenditures based on historic data, and allows users to weigh the impact of new revenues and expenditures, or large capital projects.

For more information on FocusForward, click here

The Center for Government Analysis was established in 2003 to provide clients with products and services to make governments function more effectively. Since its inception, the Center has provided reports and products to a number of clients in the public and private sectors with the consistent goal of improving government performance, transparency, and efficiency.

Center Staff

Steven B. Frates is President of the Center for Government Analysis. Dr. Frates has many years of experience in government fiscal analysis and has written extensively on government finance and public policy. His experience includes service as an Assistant to the City Administrator in Fullerton, California and as Executive Director of the San Diego County Taxpayer's Association. He has taught courses in government finance at various universities, including the University of Colorado and the University of Southern California.

Dr. Frates has also served on the California State Constitution Revision Commission and on various governmental technical advisory committees. In 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Dr. Frates to the California Performance Review Commission. Dr. Frates holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Claremont McKenna College, an MPA and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. He is a Senior Fellow at the Rose Institute of State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College.