Conference Connections 

Session Spotlight: Municipal Finance

Municipal finance is a cornerstone of community development. During the 2024 League Conference, sessions will delve into best practices for managing budgets, enhancing revenue streams, and ensuring fiscal responsibility in local governments. For CEU and speaker information, please visit the Conference website or download the Conference app from your device’s store.     

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 

10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Addressing Procurement Disparities (Room 311)

The 2024 New Jersey Disparity Study highlighted inequities in public contracting for Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs). The panel will explore strategies to address these disparities, discuss legal frameworks and policy changes, offer effective messaging to educate MWBEs about opportunities, and share strategies for gaining local government support.

10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Local Spending Decisions of ARP & LFP Funds (Room 401)

This session, using data from the NJ Division of Local Government Services, describes how counties and cities deployed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (LFRF) funds and presents how the use of LFRF has affected the fiscal landscape of local governments in New Jersey.

2:00 p.m. –3:15 p.m. Budget & Audit Updates (Room 302)

Explore budget, accounting, as well as financial policy changes and issues that will affect municipal officials in 2025. Review levy caps and new legislation, regulations and policies that affect municipal operations.

2:00 p.m.-3:15 p.m. The Real Impact of DEI&B (Room 412)

The 2024 New Jersey Disparity Study highlighted significant inequities in public contracting for Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs). This panel will explore strategies to address these disparities.

3:45 p.m. –5:00 p.m. Newly Elected Officials Primer: Budget (Room 304)

 A review of the municipal budgeting process.

3:45 p.m. –5:00 p.m. Maximizing Available Federal Grants (Room 403)

Several federal spending laws provide opportunities for municipalities to apply for federal funding to repair roads and bridges, expand broadband, and replace lead pipes. Best practices to identify, apply for and use funds.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

9:00 a.m. –10:15 a.m. Budgeting for Equity (Room 410)

Many municipalities across the U.S. are using their budgets to advance equity, and this panel will discuss how municipalities across the country use their budgets to advance equity. We will give examples of budget proposal templates and platforms that have been adopted to encourage agencies to include an equity dimension in their budget proposals.

2:00 p.m. –3:15 p.m. Hot Topics in Public Finance (Room 411)

A discussion of recent and trending issues in public finance from the perspectives of bond counsel, municipal advisors, underwriters, and rating agencies, including a discussion of various arbitrage issues applicable to tax-exempt municipal bonds and recent and notable SEC enforcement cases.

2:00 p.m. -3:15 p.m. Interaction Between the Tax Collectors & CFO (Room 312)

How we work together. Exchange of information. What's necessary to balance the books? How do taxes impact Budget Projections? The Monthly Collector's Report, what's in it? Enforcement efforts impact the collection % to the benefit of the budget, we all win!

3:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m. DLGS Yellow Book of Standard LPCL Specifications, Version 2.0 (Room 403)

The Division of Local Government Services is working with the Rutgers Center for Government Services to update key resources that assist purchasing agents in their work. They will release the new version of the Guide to Goods and Services Bid Specifications (aka, the Yellow Book).

Thursday, November 21

9:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Labor Relations: Interest Arbitration

Focusing on the interest arbitration process for law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Recent decisions and issues related to the interest arbitration process will be discussed. This seminar will also discuss the recently enacted police licensing law and regulations that went into effect on January 1, 2024.