120th Annual Conference Sessions: Budgeting and Forecasting
120th Annual Conference Sessions: Budgeting and Forecasting
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Sessions for Sunday, June 28
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Sun
28 Jun
4:00 PM - 4:50 PM CT
Budgeting and Forecasting
It Always Seems Impossible Until It's Done: Voting Yes for a Tax Increase
Public hostility towards increasing prices is a powerful force that has dominated elections, news cycles, and everyday conversations recently. However, at the same time, some governments have also been successful in getting public support for tax increases.
1 CPE credits
Level: basic
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Sessions for Monday, June 29
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Mon
29 Jun
8:30 AM - 10:10 AM CT
Budgeting and Forecasting
Questions and Answers: Understanding GFOA's New Budget Award Criteria
Trends in budgeting and technological advances have significantly changed the way that leading governments communicate budget information to stakeholders. Websites, dashboards, newsletters, videos, and other popular media can be more effective than a lengthy PDF document for communicating key messages. Based on research, member feedback, and recommendations from subject matter experts, GFOA is excited to update the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
2 CPE credits
Level: basic
More info -
Mon
29 Jun
10:30 AM - 12:10 PM CT
Budgeting and Forecasting
From Combative to Collaborative: A Better Approach to Police Staffing Conversations
Conversations between budget professionals and police chiefs about staffing sometimes devolve into combative exchanges. Staff in the budget office say, "I need you to cut staff," and the police chief says, "If I do that, crime will go through the roof!" An alternative to these types of conversations is to develop a data-driven approach that aligns police staffing with identified workload.
2 CPE credits
Level: advanced
More info -
Mon
29 Jun
4:45 PM - 5:35 PM CT
Accounting and Financial Reporting
Money, Myths, and Misinformation: Making Government Finance Make Sense
In an era of misinformation, skepticism toward institutions, and “AI-generated everything,” public trust in government has never been more fragile—or more essential. As communities face growing fiscal pressures and the need to pass critical levies, local governments must find new ways to engage residents and explain how public finance truly works.
1 CPE credits
Level: basic
More info
Sessions for Tuesday, June 30
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Tue
30 Jun
10:30 AM - 12:10 PM CT
Budgeting and Forecasting
Look for the Good: Communicating the Costs and Benefits of Government Services
Traditional government budgeting and accounting has focused on departments, cost centers, and expenditure objects that help describe how much the government is spending. This approach makes it easier to manage costs internally, but it does little to show all the good work the organization is doing to add value in the community.
2 CPE credits
Level: basic
More info -
Tue
30 Jun
10:30 AM - 12:10 PM CT
Budgeting and Forecasting
Trending Topics in Rate-Setting with the Utility Finance Forum
Setting utility rates is a complex process. Utility operators are challenged to ensure their rates cover costs, including for much-needed capital investments while also maintaining affordability for their customers. Utilities also need to ensure they are accurately predicting future revenue based on evolving customer demands.
1 CPE credits
Level: overview
More info -
Tue
30 Jun
3:35 PM - 4:50 PM CT
Budgeting and Forecasting
Be Honest. Do You Really Have Position Control?
Most finance, budget, and human resource professionals will agree that position control is critical to manage personnel costs, structure sound business processes, and implement enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. At the same time, it remains one of the most overlooked functions.
1.5 CPE credits
Level: basic
More info
Sessions for Wednesday, July 1
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Wed
1 Jul
10:30 AM - 12:10 PM CT
Budgeting and Forecasting
Timeless or Trendy: Debating the Staying Power of Common Budget Fads
For the past 50 years, governments have discovered the "perfect" solution to address budgeting challenges only to revert back to their prior approach a few years later. At GFOA, we have witnessed the rise and fall of zero-based budgeting, budgeting for outcomes, participatory budgeting, biennial budgeting, and more only to see the trend revived a few years later.
2 CPE credits
Level: intermediate
More info