What does CAFR stand for in governmental accounting?

CAFR stands for Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. This is a set of financial statements that provide a detailed overview of a government's financial position and operations for a particular fiscal year. The CAFR is designed to be more comprehensive than the standard financial statements by including not only the basic financial statements but also additional information such as required supplementary information, management discussion and analysis, and statistical data.

The structure of a CAFR typically consists of three main sections: the introductory section, the financial section, and the statistical section. This thorough approach provides a complete picture of the government’s financial health, which assists users, such as citizens, investors, and oversight bodies, in making informed assessments.

This terminology is specific to governmental accounting and emphasizes transparency and accountability, which are vital for public sector entities managing taxpayer dollars. The other options do not reflect established terminology used in the field of governmental accounting, which further solidifies that Comprehensive Annual Financial Report is indeed the correct definition.