Webinar 1: Trends in local government revenues and spending in Iowa
The goal of the webinar is to use the Annual Fiscal Condition Reports customized for individual cities and counties in Iowa to examine trends in financial indicators. Impacts the pandemic has had on local government budgets. The webinar will also focus on major legislative changes at the state level and ways in which it has impacted both, revenue and spending. Finally, the webinar is an opportunity to interact with peers and share experiences to allow for peer learning.
Presenters: Biswa Das and Erin Mullenix
What you will learn?
- How to use the annual city and county fiscal conditions reports published by ISUEO annually.
- Impact of major legislative changes on local government finances – review of the major legislative changes during 2010-2021
- Comparison with ‘peers’ – using online interactive tools – interact with peers in breakout sessions to learn about peer experiences
When?
November, 05, Friday, 12-2 pm.
Registration Fee and resources for Participants
Fee is $20 per participant
Each participant will receive
- Latest customized IGFI annual fiscal conditions report for their city or county
- Background material on the major legislative changes during 2010-2021
- Peer-analysis summary for 6 peer-groups – for cities and counties
Who should attend?
- Elected Officials – Iowa cities and counties
- Appointed officials (city and county finance, planning, economic development)
- Community and Economic Development professionals
- Council of Governments in Iowa, County affiliates in Iowa Locations
- Chambers of Commerce, Other stakeholder groups
Registration Online
Click here to register online for the webinar. When you register you will have the option to pay by credit card. If you have registered but find you cannot attend, you may send a substitute or cancel your registration; however, no refunds will be made for cancelations received less than 3 business days prior to the workshop. The registration fee is $20 per individual and covers the workshop instruction, and background materials.
The Local Government Education Webinar Series
City and County officials, elected and appointed are entrusted with the task making decisions that impact how much revenue is generated and how the spending priorities are set. With changing demographics, state mandated laws, residents attitudes toward taxes, and periodic swings in the economic cycle, it is becoming increasingly complex and challenging to manage local government finances. Improving understanding of the financial situation and trends of cities and counties is critical to the decision-making process. In addition, topics tied to community and economic development continue to be at the core of major decisions that impact the present and future of communities across Iowa. Toward that Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Community and Economic Development and Iowa League of Cities will be conducting an annual webinar series focusing on issues and topics important to local governments in Iowa. The webinar series is designed as a continuing professional development opportunity The focus of the webinar series is threefold.
Back to basics
Refresh and expand conceptual understanding on topics that are relevant to local governments. This is designed as a ‘back-to-basics’ to refresh concepts, principles, best practices, that are at the core of governmental functions and decision making, especially at the local level. Case studies will be included to provide a sense of the innovation and creativity as well as do’s and don’ts at the local government level.
Making sense of data
Utilize data-driven indicators (reports, interactive dashboard) to explain financial condition and trends. Using local financial data, ISU in collaboration with the League publishes customized fiscal condition reports. These resources are city and county specific that allow for peer comparison. New online tools are also available for comparing with peers on specific revenue and spending categories.
Learning from peers
Provide a platform to bring ‘peer-communities’ into one virtual room, bi-monthly, to talk about different aspects of governance, community and finance. We will initiate the session with a topic and allow peer-groups to engage with each other in the breakout rooms. Through a ‘community of communities’ approach, participants can bounce ideas as well as share about creative steps they might be undertaking, in that space. The goal is to facilitate greater and ongoing interaction among local government officials.
Website:https://www.extension.iastate.edu/igfi/local-government-education