According to the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB): "Performance measurement for government is the act of measuring (assessing) the manner and effectiveness in which something or somebody functions, operates, or behaves in carrying out a given task or action within a branch or agency of a political system. Performance measurement produces information that can be used to help make decisions. Literally, it creates measures or indicators of the volume, quality, efficiency and outcomes of public services. The products of performance measurement are yardsticks we can use to figure out if government is working well or poorly, or somewhere in between."

Public Performance Measurement and Reporting Network
Free membership resources provided by the National Center for Public Performance at Rutgers University, in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation 

National Center for Public Performance (Rutgers University)

Performance Measurement for Government (GASB Web site)

ICMA Center for Performance Management 
International City/County Management Association Web site

GFOA Recommended Practices
Government Finance Officers Association Web site