Title: Best Practices in Local Government Fiscal Management

Date: April 18th (9am to 5pm) and 19th (9 am to 12:00 pm), 2011

Location: Radisson Hotel, Downtown Lansing, MI

Hosts: State and Local Government Program-Michigan State University Extension and Turnaround Management Association(Michigan Chapter) 

Cost: $175.00

This training workshop is designed to assist elected and appointed local officials, private sector turnaround consultants and, government managers and others who are interested in understanding the cutting edge set of best practices in running and managing a local governments and school districts during a period of fiscal strain and stress. Workshop topics that will be covered include: the new emergency financial manager law, legal contracts, health care management, turnaround plans, local finance, local government cooperation and consolidation, school law and finance and municipal bankruptcy.  Speakers represent a wide range of experts from various backgrounds. Parrticipants will walk away with a set of tools and strategies for addressing the fiscal crisis facing many local governments and school districts today.

1. Overview of Purpose and Content of Training Agenda.................................... (9:00 am to 9:15 am)

 2. Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act........................(9:15 to 10:00am)

·         General review of provisions New law

·         Declaration of Financial Emergency by the State of Michigan

·         Criteria for Emergency Financial Status

·         Selection of Emergency Financial Manager

·         Duties of EFM

·         Indemnity/Liability Coverage

 3. Professional Support for EFM Treasury Department State of Michigan (10:00am to 10:45am)

·    Professional support available to EFM

·    Selection of support professionals

·    Criteria for selection

·    Budget – professional support

4. Local Government Contracts (11:00am to 11:45am)

·    Review of all existing contracts

·    Review of inter-governmental agreements

·    Forensic review/audit

·    Duty to report fraudulent activities or arrangements.

·    Utility, water, sewer, and infrastructure contracts

5. Working with the Local Government............................................................ (11:45am to 12:30pm)

·         Local Government Officials and their role in the Emergency Financial Crisis (e.g. Mayor,City Council, Superintendent or School Board)

·    Interaction with Public Service Departments

·    Open Meetings Act

·    Freedom of Information Act

·    Familiarity with Charter/Code of Ordinances    

 Lunch Radisson Hotel (12:30pm to 1:15pm)                                         

 6. School District Legal Issues and Overview............................................................ (1:15pm to 2:00pm)

·    School Funding Overview

·    K-12 Deficit Budget Dilemmas and Deficit Elimination Plans

·    School Reform Issues Impacting the EFM’s Charge

·    Revenue Raising and Cost Containment Strategies

·    Collective Bargaining Considerations MEA Et, Al.

 7. Local Government Services and Consolidation Issues............................................................ (2:00pm to 2:45pm)

·    Government consolidation issues Elected Officials / EFMs

·    How can local governments be consolidated?

·         What are the statutory barriers to government consolidation?

·         Michigan Constitution issues associated with consolidation of two or more local governmental units

·         How does tax-base sharing impact local government consolidation?

·         How do we deal with the lost jobs that occur through consolidation?

8. Breakout Option Sessions                

(3:00pm to 3:45pm)

a)     Current EFM Litigation Update – Reducing the Risk of Litigation

·         Current Case review

·         Future analysis concerning court review addressing the new legislative powers given EFMs and current Michigan statutes

·         Practical considerations for current Elected Officials and EFM powers under the new legislation

·         Risk management – how do EFMs reduce the risk of litigation under the new legislation?

b)    Turnaround Plan Considerations…………………………………… General reduction of operating costs – balanced budget

·         Privatization of services

·         Sale of assets

·         Merger of services with other governmental entities

·         Expand revenue generating sources

 c)     Health Care Issues…………………………………….......................

·         Review of Strategies for Employee/Retiree Health Care Cost Savings, Strategies Options, Etc.

d)    Local Government Finance (Municipal and School District).....................................

·         Working with Finance Director, Chief Financial Officer and/or Controller

·         Budget review; revenue vs. expenditures

·         General fund vs. other funds

·         Public Bond issues

·          9. Breakout Out Sessions

Breakout sessions Repreated from (3:45pm to 4:30pm)

Thursday, April 19^th

 Lessons Learned Panel 1………………………………………………………(8:00am to 9:00 am)

10. Employment Laws and Dealing with the Unionized Workforce..................................... (9:00am to 9:45am)

·    Principles of Labor Law and Collective Bargaining

·    Union negotiating strategies

·    Health care and other fringe benefits

·    Retirement/Pension issues

·    Act 312 and Act 78

11. Bankruptcy - Chapter 9 ................................................................. (9:45 am to 10:30 am)

·    General review of provision of Chapter 9

·    Requirements for filing Chapter 9

·    Impact of filing Chapter 9 (Pros vs. Cons)

 Break (10:30am to 10:45am)

  12. Lessons Learned Panel 2……………………………….. (10:45am to 12:00pm)