This course, focused on GFOA’s Best Practices in Debt Management, will help participants better understand how to develop appropriate policies and procedures for issuing debt and overall debt management. In addition to the best practices, the course will feature practical examples, details on recent federal rulemaking, including how it impacts governments, and interactive discussion on the following topics:

• Debt Issuance
• Selecting Municipal Finance Professionals
• Disclosure Practices and Investor Relations
• Financing Instruments and Techniques
• Federal Securities and Tax Laws Applicable to Issuers of Municipal Debt
• Ongoing Debt Management

Those who successfully complete this seminar should be able to:

• Identify key challenges facing government in the area of debt management
• Learn how to develop appropriate debt management policies and procedures based on the best practices
• Review current market conditions, trends, and practices
• Learn how to evaluate if issuing debt is the right option for your local government
• Review the relationship between debt financing and the organization’s capital improvement plan
• Learn the different types of debt and financing instruments available for local governments
• Gain an understanding of the bond issuer’s responsibilities before, during, and after bonds are sold, including managing relationships with external resources and disclosure requirements
• Evaluate the different types of fees charged in a bond transaction
• Learn how to comply with continuing disclosure, securities law, and tax law requirements

Staff responsible for various aspects of an entity’s debt management program

Staff that works on an entity’s debt program

Professionals interested in public finance debt best practices

This course is taught by finance officers and other industry experts.