Capital assets are expensive: from planning, to construction, to operations and maintenance. Therefore, maintaining capital infrastructure in the condition necessary to preserve and enhance your community’s vitality and quality of life takes forethought and planning.

This course will walk you through examples using best practices in long-range capital planning, budgeting, and asset maintenance planning as a foundation to discuss successful methods and many of the common challenges associated with the process.

Those who successfully complete this seminar should be able to:

• Learn the importance of preparing a long-range capital plan
• Identify the key characteristics of an effective capital planning process
• Learn what information you need to collect before you initiate a capital planning process
• Identify common obstacles to developing a long-range capital plan and learn strategies to overcome them
• Develop strategies for incorporating meaningful public participation in your capital planning process
• Learn how capital project budgeting differs from the operating budget and how the capital budget can be incorporated into the annual budget document
• Gain a better understanding of the role of the finance officer in preparing a capital improvement plan
• Determine the impact of asset management on the operating budget

This course is taught by experienced budgeting practitioners and GFOA staff. Instructors will be familiar with GFOA best practices and have experience as finance director, budget director, or CEO of various size local governments.