Removing mystique of the monitoring report.

This article provides a clearer understanding of how to use the monitoring report, a monthly statement of how the department is performing compared to the budget, to move the department forward. Critical items discussed in relation to the report include revenue, salaries, benefits, supplies, services, utilities, leases and rentals, and depreciation. Data in the report tells a story of what is happening in the department and it guides the reviewer to key areas in resolving discrepancies between what has been budgeted and what is actually occurring.