2024-11-20T14:46:12-06:00 2023-12-31 721088864 LAPORTE APAC 111 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD 600 METAIRIE LA 700054958 990 2023-01-01 720408914 BUREAU OF GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH INC BURE 5045254152 1055 ST CHARLES AVE 200 NEW ORLEANS LA 70130 REBECCA MOWBRAY PRESIDENT & CEO 5045254152 2024-11-20 1 1 JOHN S WILES CPA P01222673 5048355522 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z REBECCA MOWBRAY 1055 ST CHARLES AVE 200 NEW ORLEANS LA 70130 8944562 0 X WWW.BGR.ORG X 1932 LA THE BUREAU OF GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT, INDEPENDENT (CONT'D ON SCH. O) RESEARCH ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INFORMED PUBLIC POLICY MAKING AND THE EFFECTIVE USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF GOVERNMENT IN THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS METROPOLITAN AREA. 30 30 12 0 0 0 1014484 826175 0 0 78038 528508 -21565 -39060 1070957 1315623 0 0 0 0 842819 849935 0 0 144055 264852 309427 1107671 1159362 -36714 156261 9335387 10107586 162328 100451 9173059 10007135 X THE BUREAU OF GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT, INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO INFORMED PUBLIC POLICY MAKING AND THE EFFECTIVE USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF GOVERNMENT IN THE NEW ORLEANS METROPOLITAN AREA. 0 0 776682 MONITORING AND REPORTING ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUES: IN 2023, BGR REPORTED ON MANY COMPLEX ISSUES IN LOCAL GOVERNANCE IN 11 REPORTS. AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS: IN 2023, BGR PUBLISHED FOUR ON THE BALLOT REPORTS TO INFORM VOTERS ABOUT IMPORTANT LOCAL PROPOSITIONS. THESE REPORTS ANALYZED A PROPOSED TAX INCREASE FOR THE ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE RENEWAL OF AN ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL FACILITIES TAX, AND TWO CITY CHARTER AMENDMENTS. VOTERS AGREED WITH ALL FOUR OF BGR'S POSITIONS. IN MAY, BGR PUBLISHED A MAJOR REPORT ON SEWERAGE & WATER BOARD GOVERNANCE. WE FOUND THAT THE CURRENT STRUCTURE FAILS TO SUPPORT EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKING, FUNDING AND ACCOUNTABILITY. IN NOVEMBER, BGR FOLLOWED UP ON TWO OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN A LETTER (CONT'D ON SCH O) ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO IMPROVE ITS REVIEW OF SEWERAGE & WATER BOARD FUNDING REQUESTS AND THE COUNCIL'S OVERSIGHT OF THE UTILITY. IN THE SPRING, BGR WROTE TWO LETTERS ON HOW THE MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS HAVE LED TO TRANSPARENCY IMPROVEMENTS: THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS EXPANDED ITS ONLINE PUBLIC REPORTING, WHILE JEFFERSON PARISH'S INSPECTOR GENERAL PLANNED TO INCREASE OVERSIGHT OF SPENDING. MEANWHILE, BGR'S MAY 2023 WEBINAR, "DESIGNING CITY GOVERNMENTS FOR SUCCESS," SPARKED LOCAL DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO OPTIMIZE THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS' FORM OF GOVERNMENT.IN 2023, BGR RESEARCH STAFF MONITORED MORE THAN 70 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE NEW ORLEANS AREA, INCLUDING THE NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL AND ITS COMMITTEES. BGR ALSO TRACKED THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE AND ANY BILLS THAT WERE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.AFTER RESEARCH IS COMPLETED, BGR PURSUES PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, SOMETIMES OVER THE COURSE OF MANY YEARS. THIS IS DONE THROUGH A SERIES OF FOLLOW-UP PUBLICATIONS AND OUTREACH TO CITIZENS GROUPS, THE MEDIA, DECISION-MAKERS, AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN RELEVANT POLICY AREAS. IN TERMS OF EFFECTIVENESS, BGR HAS HAD SUCCESSFUL POSITIONS ON BALLOT RESULTS 81% OF THE TIME SINCE 2014. ANOTHER MEASURE OF BGR'S IMPACT IS ITS PRESENCE IN THE MEDIA AND LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THEIR CONTENT. IN 2023, THE NEWS MEDIA CITED BGR REPORTS MORE THAN 100 TIMES, A MORE THAN 50% INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. FOR ITS WORK, BGR HAS RECEIVED MANY AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS FROM THE GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION. IN 2023 BGR WON THE MOST DISTINGUISHED RESEARCH AWARD FOR OUR 2022 REPORT ON NEW ORLEANS JAIL GOVERNANCE, AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE EDUCATION AWARD FOR OUR 2022 REPORT ON THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS' USE OF FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT PANDEMIC RELIEF FUNDS. BGR'S WORK SERVES CITIZENS ACROSS MANY LOCALITIES INCLUDING JEFFERSON, ORLEANS, AND ST. TAMMANY PARISHES. BASED ON 2020 U.S. CENSUS DATA, THE POTENTIAL REACH OF BGR'S MONITORING AND REPORTING IS APPROXIMATELY 1 MILLION PEOPLE. 16256 BREAKFAST BRIEFINGS: BGR'S BREAKFAST BRIEFINGS ARE PUBLIC FORUMS WHERE EXPERTS AND DECISION-MAKERS ARE INVITED TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON MAJOR PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES IN THE AREA. THESE EVENTS KEEP CITIZENS INFORMED AND MOTIVATE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND AN INFORMED PUBLIC POLICY DIALOGUE, ALL OF WHICH ARE KEY COMPONENTS OF BGR'S MISSION AND ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT. IN 2023, BGR HOSTED 4 BREAKFAST BRIEFINGS. THREE BRIEFINGS FEATURED TOPICS ON THE MINDS OF MANY NEW ORLEANIANS. DR. AVIS WILLIAMS PROVIDED HER OUTLOOK AS THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF NOLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC WORKS LEADERS JOSEPH THREAT AND SARAH MCLAUGHLIN PORTEOUS UPDATED THE PROGRESS OF THE ROADWORK NOLA STREET REPAIR PROGRAM, AND ON DECEMBER 13, 2023, ANNE KIRKPATRICK, THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF (CONT'D ON SCH O) THE NEW ORLEANS POLICE DEPARTMENT, SHARED HER VISION FOR NOPD'S FUTURE. THE FOURTH BREAKFAST BRIEFING TOOK PLACE IN ST. TAMMANY PARISH. IT EXPLORED WHETHER THE PARISH SHOULD SHRINK ITS 14-MEMBER PARISH COUNCIL, WHICH IS THE LARGEST AMONG LOUISIANA'S MOST POPULOUS PARISHES. INSPIRED BY THIS DISCUSSION, THE PARISH COUNCIL VOTED IN NOVEMBER TO FORM A COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE PARISH CHARTER AND CONSIDER A POSSIBLE REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE BREAKFAST BRIEFING EVENTS BRING KEY POLICY ISSUES TO CITIZENS AND ALLOWS THEM TO ENGAGE WITH POLICY LEADERS AND DECISION-MAKERS. ACCESS TO EACH OF THESE EVENTS IS INCREASED BY VIDEO RECORDING THE PRESENTATIONS AND POSTING THEM ONLINE. THE MEDIA COVERAGE FURTHER MAGNIFIES AWARENESS OF THE POLICY ISSUES DISCUSSED AND OF BGR'S WORK. 792938 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 16 0 1 12 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 30 30 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 LA X X DEREK LANDRUM 5045254152 1055 ST CHARLES AVENUE SUITE 200 NEW ORLEANS LA 70130 H MERRITT LANE III CHAIR 10.00 X X 0 0 0 STEVEN W USDIN VICE CHAIR 4.00 X X 0 0 0 ANNE P BANOS SECRETARY 4.00 X X 0 0 0 LOUIS M FREEMAN JR TREASURER 4.00 X X 0 0 0 BLAKE J STANFILL ASSISTANT SECRETARY 4.00 X X 0 0 0 CHRISTINE ALBERT ASSISTANT TREASURER 4.00 X X 0 0 0 NORMA GRACE PAST CHAIR 4.00 X X 0 0 0 RYAN ADKERSON MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 ELIZABETH BOH MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 SUSAN G BRENNAN MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 MELANIE BRONFIN MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 VANESSA B CLAIBORNE EXECUTIVE COMMITTE 4.00 X 0 0 0 CARLIN CONNER MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 MOLLYE M DEMOSTHENIDY MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 BEN A DUPUY MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 PERRY EASTMAN IV MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 JESSIE HAYNES MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN LANDRUM MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 ILEANA LEDET MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 GARY L LORIO MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 RONALD P MCCLAIN MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 GRAHAM RALSTON MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 PATTY RIDDLEBARGER MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 DAVID C RIEVESCHL MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 JENNIFER ROBERTS MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 DOUGLAS M STOKES MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 VERA TRIPLETT MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 LAMAR VILLERE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 4.00 X 0 0 0 CHARLES WEST MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 JONATHAN WILSON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 4.00 X 0 0 0 MICHELLE MOORE 1123 - 3723 MEMBER 2.00 X 0 0 0 REBECCA MOWBRAY PRESIDENT/CEO 40.00 X 197634 0 16876 STEPHEN B STUART VP & RESEARCH DIRECTOR 40.00 X 138000 0 4153 335634 0 21029 2 0 1 0 0 478199 125726 222250 826175 234380 234380 7848113 7553985 294128 294128 294128 34859 125726 74954 -40095 -40095 MISCELLANEOUS 900099 1035 1035 1035 1315623 0 0 489448 197635 135380 32017 30238 539667 369672 87426 82569 21917 15013 3551 3353 36785 25198 5959 5628 53931 36943 8737 8251 73713 73713 21250 21250 1101 1035 33 33 6869 6457 206 206 37167 34937 1115 1115 56552 53158 1697 1697 8562 8562 9773 9187 293 293 5677 5337 170 170 EVENT EXPENSES 23234 23234 0 0 STAFF DEVELOPMENT 18163 13077 3088 1998 DUES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS 14473 14473 0 0 STRATEGIC INITIATIVES 12000 12000 20893 8025 4364 8504 1159362 792938 222369 144055 769633 823911 109504 93775 17743 17492 82988 73730 16161 9258 8277046 9078794 145300 84356 9335387 10107586 15285 14917 147043 85534 162328 100451 X 1102062 1075218 8070997 8931917 9173059 10007135 9335387 10107586 156261 699050 -21235 0 X X 0 1 X 1 0 X 975838 1813295 800618 1014484 826175 5430410 975838 1813295 800618 1014484 826175 5430410 1296085 4134325 209823 266084 179762 237638 234380 1127687 1035 1035 6559132 30400 0.63030 0.48680 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 1765 1765 1232550 1234315 198432 49608 0 0 146306 187420 192694 198432 724852 1087278 741 658 547 1765 3711 36577 46855 48174 49608 181214 271821 8046496 1189610 -398961 8837145 9970261 -1642161 -282004 8046496 9255756 1014535 -300000 9970261 7739943 1000000 868752 -352939 9255756 6787404 1077539 -125000 7739943 0.55360 0.44640 1 0 82988 73730 9258 9258 LEASE LIABILITIES 85534 85534 X 2176199 698699 108159 74953 881811 1294388 21235 21235 1315623 1342474 108159 74953 183112 1159362 0 1159362 PART V, LINE 4: BGR'S ENDOWMENTS CONSIST OF DONOR RESTRICTED GNOF INVESTMENT POOL FUND, THE JANET HOWARD CHAIR IN GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH ENDOWMENT FUND (HOWARD CHAIR), THE BGR ENDOWMENT FUND CREATED BY BGR, AND THE ZEMURRAY FUND. GNOF INVESTMENT POOL FUND IS MAINTAINED AND MANAGED BY THE GNOF WITHIN THEIR INVESTMENT POOL. THE FUND IS INVESTED BY GNOF WITH AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE A PREDICTABLE STREAM OF FUNDING TO PROGRAMS SUPPORTED BY ITS ENDOWMENT WHILE SEEKING TO MAINTAIN THE PURCHASING POWER OF THESE ENDOWMENT ASSETS OVER THE LONG-TERM. ANNUAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF INCOME FROM THE GNOF INVESTMENT POOL FUND, AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF GNOF ARE PROVIDED TO BGR. BGR'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS THEN DECIDES TO EITHER USE THE FUNDS FOR OPERATIONS OF BGR OR TO INVEST IN ONE OF ITS ENDOWMENT FUNDS. BGR CREATED THE BGR ENDOWMENT FUND IN 2007. THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE OF THE BGR ENDOWMENT FUND IS TO EMPHASIZE TOTAL RETURN. SPECIFICALLY, THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO EMPHASIZE LONG-TERM GROWTH OF PRINCIPAL WHILE AVOIDING EXCESSIVE RISK. THE SECONDARY OBJECTIVE IS TO ACHIEVE RETURNS IN EXCESS OF THE RATE OF INFLATION PLUS SPENDING OVER THE INVESTMENT HORIZON IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE PURCHASING POWER OF THE FUND'S ASSETS. RISK CONTROL IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE INVESTMENT OF THE FUND ASSETS. IN 2015, A DONOR CREATED THE HOWARD CHAIR. THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE OF THE BGR ENDOWMENT FUND IS TO EMPHASIZE TOTAL RETURN. SPECIFICALLY, THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO EMPHASIZE LONG-TERM GROWTH OF PRINCIPAL WHILE AVOIDING EXCESSIVE RISK. THE SECONDARY OBJECTIVE IS TO ACHIEVE RETURNS IN EXCESS OF THE RATE OF INFLATION PLUS SPENDING OVER THE INVESTMENT HORIZON IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE PURCHASING POWER OF THE FUND'S ASSETS. SUCH DISTRIBUTABLE FUNDS SHALL BE USED TO COVER THE EXPENSES OF A SPEAKER AT BGR'S ANNUAL LUNCHEON, HENCEFORTH TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE JANET HOWARD SPEAKER SERIES IN GOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH. IN 2018, A DONOR PROMISED TO GIVE $2,000,000 TO ENDOW THE SAMUEL ZEMURRAY CHAIR IN RESEARCH LEADERSHIP. THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES OF THE ZEMURRAY CHAIR ENDOWMENT FUND ARE TO EMPHASIZE TOTAL RETURN. SPECIFICALLY, THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO EMPHASIZE LONG-TERM GROWTH OF PRINCIPAL WHILE AVOIDING EXCESSIVE RISK. SHORT-TERM VOLATILITY WILL BE TOLERATED IN AS MUCH AS IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE VOLATILITY OF COMPARABLE CAPITAL MARKET BENCHMARKS. THE SECONDARY OBJECTIVE IS TO ACHIEVE RETURNS IN EXCESS OF THE RATE OF INFLATION PLUS SPENDING OVER THE INVESTMENT HORIZON IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE PURCHASING POWER OF THE FUND'S ASSETS. RISK CONTROL IS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE INVESTMENT OF THE FUND ASSETS. SUCH DISTRIBUTABLE FUNDS SHALL BE USED TO SUPPORT THE SALARY FOR THE POSITION OF BGR'S PRESIDENT AND CEO, WHICH POSITION SHALL HEREAFTER PERMANENTLY BEAR THE TITLE OF THE SAMUEL ZEMURRAY CHAIR IN RESEARCH LEADERSHIP IN ALL AND EVERY REFERENCE TO IT. PART X, LINE 2: ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES GENERALLY ACCEPTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PROVIDE ACCOUNTING AND DISCLOSURE GUIDANCE ABOUT POSITIONS TAKEN BY AN ENTITY IN ITS TAX RETURNS THAT MIGHT BE UNCERTAIN. BGR BELIEVES THAT IT HAS APPROPRIATE SUPPORT FOR ANY TAX POSITIONS TAKEN, AND MANAGEMENT HAS DETERMINED THAT THERE ARE NO UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS THAT ARE MATERIAL TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. PENALTIES AND INTEREST ASSESSED BY INCOME TAXING AUTHORITIES, IF ANY, WOULD BE INCLUDED IN INCOME TAX EXPENSE. PART XI, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: ANNUAL LUNCHEON EXPENSES 74,953. PART XII, LINE 2D - OTHER ADJUSTMENTS: ANNUAL LUNCHEON EXPENSES 74,953. ANNUAL LUNCHEON 160585 125726 34859 13250 35186 26518 160585 125726 34859 13250 35186 26518 74954 -40095 X X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 REBECCA MOWBRAY PRESIDENT/CEO 197634 0 0 0 0 0 6000 0 10876 0 214510 0 0 0 FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 2 MERRITT LANE HAS A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH VANESSA CLAIBORNE MERRITT LANE HAS A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH GARY LORIO MERRITT LANE HAS A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH LAMAR VILLERE RON MCCLAIN HAS A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH JOHNATHAN WILSON RON MCCLAIN HAS A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH VERA TRIPLETT FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 BGR HAS MEMBERS WHO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE ORGANIZATION ALLOWING FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO PRESERVE ITS INDEPENDENCE. CONSISTENT WITH BGR'S BYLAWS, MEMBERS HAVE VOTING PRIVILEGES AT BGR'S ANNUAL MEETING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A BGR HAS MEMBERS WHO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE ORGANIZATION ALLOWING FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO PRESERVE ITS INDEPENDENCE. CONSISTENT WITH BGR'S BYLAWS, MEMBERS HAVE VOTING PRIVILEGES AT BGR'S ANNUAL MEETING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B UPON COMPLETION OF THE FINAL DRAFT OF FORM 990 BY BGR'S AUDITORS,THE PRESIDENT & CEO, REBECCA MOWBRAY, AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE REVIEW THE FORM 990. COPIES ARE PROVIDED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C BGR HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY AND AN ETHICS POLICY STATEMENT IT REQUIRES ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES TO REVIEW AND ACKNOWLEDGE BY SIGNATURE. THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY REQUIRES DISCLOSURE OF ANY FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT MATTER OF BGR'S RESEARCH AND REPORTING OR IN THE OPERATION OF ITS ORGANIZATION. THE ETHICS POLICY STATEMENT REQUIRES RECUSAL FOR REAL OR PERCEIVED CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND PRESCRIBES THE PROCESS BY WHICH CONFLICTS ARE DISCLOSED, REPORTED, AND ADJUDICATED BY THE APPROPRIATE OFFICER OR STAFF MEMBER. IT ALSO IMPOSES THE DUTY OF CONFIDENTIALITY FOR INTERNAL INFORMATION AND PROHIBITS EMPLOYEE POLITICAL ACTIVITY. BGR IMPLEMENTED THESE POLICIES TO SAFEGUARD THE CREDIBILITY, OBJECTIVITY, INDEPENDENCE AND NONPARTISAN CHARACTERISTICS OF ITS WORK PRODUCT AND TO ENSURE THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF INTEGRITY IN ITS POLICY ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SET THE COMPENSATION OF THE PRESIDENT & CEO BASED ON ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. THIS ADVICE IS BASED ON COMPARABLE DATA. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES ITS FORM 990 UPON REQUEST AND IT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON WWW.GUIDESTAR.ORG. FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C THE PROCESS HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.