The Government Finance Officers Association has asked all industry affiliates to immediately cease using the acronym CAFR, which stands for Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

Pronunciation of the acronym resembles that of a slur for Blacks used in South Africa, among other places.

Effective March 9, GFOA recommends referring to the report by either the full name or a shortened format that does not include the four-letter acronym, the organization said in a statement on its website.

"For instance, the ‘Annual Report' is advised. The four-letter acronym, even pronounced by saying each letter individually, is still not advised.

"This recommendation is the result of increasing professional awareness that the acronym, when pronounced aloud, sounds the same as a derogatory term historically used in other parts of the world," GFOA said. "Most concerningly (in) South Africa, where this term has ties to apartheid and was used as a racial slur toward Black South Africans."

One organization that was quick to adopt the new policy is the Pittsburgh Controller's Office. "To me it's just an issue of basic thoughtfulness and consideration of others," Pittsburgh Controller Michael Lamb told the Tribune-Review newspaper. "It's not a big problem for us. When we have the opportunity to be thoughtful and considerate of others, we ought to take advantage of it and do it."

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board, which establishes accounting and financial reporting standards for U.S. state and local governments, is formally considering ending use of the acronym, the Tribune-Review reported. Their process began in December.

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