Introduction to Local Government Finance
- August 17 - September 4, 2020
Introduction to Local Government Finance
This introductory course provides basic instruction in local government and public authority finance and financial management. Areas of instruction include the basic legal authority and requirements governing local government revenues, budgeting processes, cash management, purchasing and contracting, expenditure control, conflicts of interest, fund accounting and financial reporting. The course also provides an overview of the state and local economic issues that inform strategic budgeting decisions.
We have made significant changes to how we will offer this course in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The total hours of instruction and content covered remain the same as in years past, but the method of instruction will be different. The course will incorporate both asynchronous and synchronous elements. It will effectively run for 3 weeks, but is designed to allow for significant flexibility to meet the needs of participants’ varied schedules. Over the course of the first two weeks of the course, which will run from August 17 through August 30, participants will be required to view up to 12 hours of prerecorded content. There will be 11 individual topic recordings, each running roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour. Participants will be given access to all 11 pre-recorded sessions on August 17. It will be up to participants to determine when to view the recordings. (Some might choose to do 1 a day; others may choose to do all of them over the course of 2-3 days.) For the third week of the course, all participants will be required to participate in Zoom calls for a total of two hours each day, according to the following schedule:
Monday, August 31
9:00-10:00am The Annual Budget Ordinance and Budgeting Process
10:30-11:30am Property Tax Administration
Tuesday, Sept 1
9:00-10:00am Accounting and Financial Reporting
10:30-11:30am Cash Management and Disbursements
Wednesday, Sept. 2
9:00-10:00am Local Government Revenues
10:30-11:30am Revenue Forecasting
Thursday, Sept. 3
9:00-10:00am Purchasing and Contracting
10:30-11:30am Conflict of Interest
Friday, Sept. 4
9:00-10:00am Community Economic Development
10:30-11:30am Knowledge Check
In order to earn a certificate for the course, participants will need to view the recordings and fully participate in all of the Zoom calls. If you miss one of the calls, you will not be eligible for the course certificate.
Note that we will provide documentation of the work required over the 3-week period in advance so that you can work with your supervisors to complete all of the course requirements during work hours.
Local Government Federal Credit Union offers scholarships to local government employees to apply toward tuition for conferences, classes, and seminars offered by the School of Government. There are four deadlines to submit applications:
- March 1 (for courses starting between April 1 and June 30)
- June 1 (for courses starting between July 1 and September 30)
- September 1 (for courses starting between October 1 and December 31)
- December 1 (for courses starting between January 1 and March 31)
| CPE | 30.00 hrs |
- August 17 - September 4, 2020View Scholarship Information
Local Government Federal Credit Union offers scholarships to local government employees to apply toward tuition for conferences, classes, and seminars offered by the School of Government. There are four deadlines to submit applications:
- March 1 (for courses starting between April 1 and June 30)
- June 1 (for courses starting between July 1 and September 30)
- September 1 (for courses starting between October 1 and December 31)
- December 1 (for courses starting between January 1 and March 31)
View Cancellation PolicyCourse participants who cancel their registration on or before August 09, 2020 will receive a full refund. No refund will be made for cancellations on or after August 10, 2020, but you will receive a transferrable credit to be used within 12 months. Click here to view the School’s full cancellation and refund policy.View Additional InformationMust apply$600.00If you are a returning customer, please note that we have a new course registration system that we hope will be easier for you to use. If you encounter any registration issues, please explore our list of frequently asked questions or contact us at registration@sog.unc.edu or 919.966.4414.
2020 Course Agenda and Materials will be available Aug. 17, additional information to follow for all registered participants.
