ATFC Annual Meeting features speakers, workshops

November 7, 2008

Two hundred finance committee members from across the state attended the Association of Town Finance Committees Annual Meeting on Nov. 1 in Westford.

Speakers at the day-long conference included Sovereign Bank New England President John Hamill and the MMA’s deputy legislative director, John Robertson.

There were seven educational sessions offered, ranging from a new member seminar to an in-depth look at GASB 45 and post retirement benefits. Materials from five of the seven workshops are available here.

The 2008 edition of the Finance Committee Handbook was distributed to member committees. Committees that have not yet received a copy will receive correspondence shortly indicating how to request a copy for each committee member.


Workshop session handouts

OPEB, Implementation and Impact
• OPEB and Government Credit Quality (PDF)
• GASB Statement No. 45 (PDF)

School Building Authority Update
• School Building Authority Update (PowerPoint)

Assessing, Collecting and Investing: Roles and Responsibilities in Town Hall
• Assessing Overview (PDF)
• Treasurer/Collector Overview (PDF)
• Tax Taking Process Flow Chart (PDF)

Developing Sound Financial Policies
• Public Finance Criteria: Financial Management Assessment (PDF)
• Developing Sound Financial Policies: S&P’s Financial Management Assessment (PDF)
• Public Finance Criteria: Key General Obligation Ratio Credit Ranges – Analysis Vs. Reality (PDF)
• Public Finance Criteria: GO Debt (PDF)
• Projection of Revenues Vs. Expenditures, Town of Duxbury (Excel)
• Projected Debt Service, Town of Franklin (PDF)
• “A Budget is a Statement of Values” (PDF)
• Top 10 Management Characteristics of Highly Rated Credits in U.S. Public Finance (PDF)

Proposition 2 ½: Getting Voters to Say Yes
• “An Approach to Success: A Municipal Override of Proposition 2 ½ Tax Levy” (PDF)

Written by MMA Senior Member Services Coord. Denise Baker