9:00 A.M.

Registration

9:30 A.M.

TPT Simplification and Legislation Update
Pulliam Auditorium

Speakers:
Lee Grafstrom, Tax Policy Analyst, League of Arizona Cities and Towns
Sandy Schilling, Acting Deputy Finance Director, City of Phoenix

Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) can be a controversial topic and changes in TPT can dramatically affect all levels of government in Arizona. This session will provide up-to-date information on the 2013 TPT Simplification effort (HB2111) from members of the implementation team. In addition, our panel will discuss the latest trends in legislation at the federal and state level including topics such as taxation of internet sales and construction contracting. Finally, the panel will discuss a proposal by the City of Phoenix that will allow other cities and towns to utilize their Oracle Business Intelligence module to provide enhanced TPT data manipulation for recurring and ad hoc reporting, taxpayer compliance efforts, and informed audit selection. Keep up to date with the latest information on TPT as you prepare your forecasts for the upcoming budget.

11:30 A.M.

Lunch
Pulliam Auditorium

11:30 A.M.

Optional Budget Boot Camp
Lecture Hall

Speaker:
Pat Walker, Principal Owner, Pat Walker Consulting LLC

In the past several years cities and towns have had several new requirements placed on them regarding the transparency of the budget process. This session will explore the basics of the budget process and will emphasize the statutory requirements related to the publishing and posting requirements of your tentative and final budgets.

12:40 P.M.

Economic Forecasting
Pulliam Auditorium

Speakers:
Jim Rounds, Senior Vice President, Elliott D. Pollack & Company

Join our speaker to learn about different perspectives and methods used in forecasting Arizona's economic future.

1:40 P.M.

PSPRS – An Update on the League's Pension Task Force
Pulliam Auditorium

Speakers:
Scott McCarty, Finance Director, Town of Paradise Valley; Chair, Pension Reform Task Force
Mike Townsend, Deputy County Manager, Coconino County; Vice-Chair, Pension Reform Task Force
René Guillen, Jr., Legislative Director, League of Arizona Cities and Towns

In July 2014, the League, in partnership with the Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA) and the Government Finance Officers of Arizona (GFOAz), formed a Pension Reform Task Force to examine the PSPRS system. The Task Force is reviewing all aspects of PSPRS and identifying areas for improvement and recommendations. This session will provide an update on the progress of the Task Force as well as discuss several actions your entity should consider now to help address PSPRS costs.

2:30 P.M.

Training Concludes