This session is designed to give all levels of municipal employees a detailed overview of how to research and write winning grant applications (state and federal). The tips and skills presented are also applicable to federal cooperative agreement applications. Topics covered will include how to strengthen your Legislative connections to assist you with the grant seeking and post-submission processes, how to craft a winning narrative, how to prepare the budget summary and narrative detail, how to push your application to the top of the peer review stack and follow-up recommendations. Read more

Despite strong protests from the GFOA and the major public interest groups representing state and local government, the Financial Accounting Foundation, which oversees the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), has given the GASB the green light to add performance measurement (which it refers to as service efforts and accomplishments reporting -- SEA), to the board's technical agenda. GFOA protested that the move amounted to a unilateral and unwarranted expansion of the GASB's authority to set standards of accounting and financial reporting, and thus constituted a major violation of the 1984 agreement that established the GASB. Read more

The 2007 Annual Conference will take place at the Princess Resort in Scottsdale, August 28-31.

The rate for the hotel is $133 per night for single and double rooms. To make your reservations, call 480-585-4848 local or 1(800) 257-7544 and specify you are with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns Annual Conference to receive the League rate of $133.00 for single or double rooms. Larger room types are available for higher rates.

The program and registration will be available in early June. We look forward to a great event in Scottsdale.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact League staff.

Jeffrey Chapman and Rex L. Facer II

Reprinted from the October 2005 issue of Land Lines, a quarterly publication of the Lincoln Institute.

Recent court decisions have made economic development and tax policy front-page news. The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London raised a public outcry when it allowed local governments dramatic latitude in acquiring private property for economic development purposes. This case had a fiscal aspect as well, for it illustrated how financial pressures can lead local governments to seek alternatives to direct investment for economic revitalization and redevelopment. Read more

GFOA courses are developed and taught by public finance specialists, and nearly 3,000 state and local finance professionals attend each year. Many of the courses are offered at intermediate and advanced levels to meet the varying needs of the participants. In addition, the programs are held in different locations around the country to make it easier for finance officials to attend. Read more

Reprinted from the November 2005 issue of Az Management, official publication of ACMA.

The motto "Be prepared," isn't just great advice for Boy Scouts; it's also great career advice. You never know when the perfect career opportunity will present itself. If a recruiter called you today with your dream job, would you be prepared to send out an up-to-date resume right away? There are four critical times to update your resume: Read more

Do you have a recent promotion or transition that you would like to announce? This new section of the newsletter recognizes members who have recently been promoted or have recently transitioned. If you would like your name to be featured in this section of the newsletter, please contact Greg Flynn at 602-258-5786 or email: gflynn@azleague.org.

Senior Accountant
City of Peoria

Where are you originally from?
I was born in Coolidge, Arizona. We moved to Phoenix when I was seven. Other than college in Utah, and a couple of years living in northern California, I have lived in the valley most of my life.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in local government?
Prior to working for the City of Peoria, I worked in several finance positions for a mortgage banker in midtown Phoenix. When I bought my home in the west valley, I started looking for work closer to home because of the commute. Peoria was looking for an accountant, it was close to home, and the rest is history. Read more