Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The 18th session of the MMA-Suffolk Municipal Finance Management Seminar kicked off virtually on Oct. 17 with 26 participating students.
The MMA and Suffolk University kicked off the 18th session of the Municipal Finance Management Seminar in October.
The seminar provides an overview of municipal finance in Massachusetts, including the structure and purpose of local government, municipal budgeting systems and sources of revenue, financial reporting and record keeping, financial management, principles of property assessment, the intersection of human resources and financial resources, and best practices in local government finance.
The seminar is for municipal employees interested in furthering their careers in municipal finance or employees who are new to municipal finance. More than 400 local officials have completed the municipal finance seminar since it began in 2019.
Seminars are held via Zoom over the course of five Fridays, with start dates as follows:
• Winter 2026: Jan. 9 (fully enrolled)
• Spring 2026: March 6
• Fall 2026: TBD (mid-October)
Students are expected to attend all course sessions, participate in class activities, and complete all course assignments. Each session can accommodate up to 25 students, and the cost is $925.
Registration is first-come, first-served. Applicants will be vetted to ensure that they’re municipal employees and that there are no more than three participants per municipality.
Registration details for the spring session will be emailed to chief municipal officials in mid-November.
Questions about the registration process can be directed to Kate Evarts at [email protected] or 617-426-7272, ext. 172.
Human Resources Seminar
The MMA-Suffolk Municipal Human Resources Seminar began its fifth session in October.
The seminar covers human resources management, policies and practices specific to Massachusetts cities and towns. Topics include hiring and onboarding, benefits administration, policy development, collective bargaining, and employee reviews and evaluations.Students also review relevant labor laws and best practices in municipal human resources management.
The seminar is designed for municipal employees interested in furthering their career in municipal human resources, employees who are new to municipal human resources, and employees who work in a municipal function with human-resources-adjacent tasks. More than 100 participants have completed the seminar since its inception in 2024.
The Municipal Human Resources Seminar will be held via Zoom over the course of five Fridays, with start dates as follows:
• Winter 2026: Jan. 9 (fully enrolled)
• Spring 2026: April 10
The application for the spring seminar will be available on the program website in mid-November. Waitlisted applicants will receive emails when additional sessions are confirmed. Questions about the registration process can be directed to Kate Evarts at [email protected] or 617-426-7272, ext. 172.
Questions
The MMA has partnered with Suffolk University since 2011 to offer programs designed exclusively for municipal employees to help them further their professional careers. For more information on any of the MMA-Suffolk programs, visit mma.org/suffolk or contact Katie McCue at 617-426-7272, ext. 111, or [email protected], or Kate Evarts at 617-426-7272, ext. 172, or [email protected].