The annual workshops provided a review of the important factors that affect city budgets while helping attendees understand the state requirements for completing and filing the budget. Budget Workshops are primarily intended for city administrators, city clerks and finance officers, but the workshops are open to all city officials.

2025 Budget Workshop Topics:

Budget Projections and Issues
Discussion on financial trends and projections important to your city budget.

State Department of Management Update
Michael Baker from the  Department of Management provided updates on the city budget form and other financial reporting that cities must complete. Always an important session for attendees, both veterans and those newer to their role in city government benefit from this informative session.

Budget Form Basics
Tonya Williams from the Department of Management provided step-by-step instructions on preparing your city’s budget and using the state budget form with plenty of opportunities for questions. This session was presented as a hands-on walkthrough of the budget forms and submission process. Relevant example budget documents were provided, and attendees were encouraged to bring their own laptops and city budget materials.

Economic Development Tools and Best Practices
Cities have an important role in economic development efforts by ensuring public infrastructure can serve the community, working with residents and businesses on shared goals, and utilizing its tools to help spur growth. This session reviewed the various ways cities can finance economic development and incentivize business retention and attraction, while also discussing some of the recent impacts stemming from changes to the property tax system.