MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is continuing its initiatives to improve financial management. We are using government-wide financial management goals, the legislation related to the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), DOT’s Strategic Plan, and our financial management visions as a basis for action. Our focus is on upgrading our accounting system, achieving clean audit opinions on our consolidated financial statements, and effectively leveraging technology, such as the Internet, to add efficiency to our operations. The Department has numerous accomplishments that have further strengthened our financial management environment. They are:

· Implementing Delphi, DOT’s new integrated financial management system.

· Offering web-based travel services, “FedTrip” and “Web T&E,” which provide cheaper and easier travel arrangement for our employees and reduce travel transaction fees, while eliminating manual data entry of travel data into the accounting system.

· Continuing innovative financing techniques that supplement Federal funds with private and non-Federal public sector investment for transportation infrastructure.

· Promoting the use of electronic business practices. Our “Do-It-Yourself (DIY)” website expands the opportunities for citizens to make payments for DOT services over the Internet with a credit card and electronic checks. Our use of invoice imaging and workflow technology has covered the costs of paying vendors and has improved the quality of financial data.

· Increasing our use of the Government Small Purchase Credit Card has saved over $46 million in administrative costs in FY 2001- FY 2002.

· Having over 98 percent of employee salary payments by Electronic Fund Transfer, a one percent increase over last year.

This report illustrates the Department’s recent achievements and future plans in the area of financial and performance management. We are completely committed to the Present’s management goals, and I am proud of our team for their accomplishments.

Donna McLean