In carrying out its responsibilities, OFM receives information about the management and operation of state agencies and their programs. This information includes, but is not limited to: Budget proposals, short and long-range goals and the plans developed to meet them, present and projected workloads, capital and operating resource requirements, detailed and summary reports of current expenditures, financial commitments, etc. This information is obtained both on a routine basis and in response to requests from the executive and legislative branches. It is recorded and evaluated by OFM and becomes the basis for reports, recommendations, approval of expenditures and, in certain cases, for the establishment of firm criteria for the disbursement of state funds.

In obtaining the necessary data to perform these functions, OFM employs numerous methods of communication including, but not limited to: Reports submitted by state agencies, meetings with agency representatives, memoranda and informal contacts between its personnel and that of respondent agencies.

When necessary for the timely and uniform execution of its duties, OFM exercises its statutory power to place standardized reporting requirements upon other agencies of state government.

OFM has published and currently maintains the State Administrative and Accounting Manual, which contains policies and guidance for state agencies in fiscally related matters.