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President’s Message
By: Pamela Arends-King, City of Tustin
Happy New Year!!! It seems to me 2014 went sailing by and I am still trying to board that boat. My 82-year-old father visited over the holidays and I asked him if time “slowed down” once you were fully retired since you’re not really on a set schedule. His reply was that time goes by even faster because now his “schedule” was set by the pills one takes due to old age. If we are blessed to live as long as my father then we have something to look forward to.
On December 5, 2014, the CSMFO Board of Directors held an in-person meeting at the City of Newport Beach’s community center. We had good attendance by Board members, committee chairs and vice chairs. The primary purpose of the in-person meeting was to finalize the changes made to the Strategic Plan and Action Plan for 2015. It emphasized key areas such as chapter outreach and governance, with a chair/vice-chair structure; developing procedures for committee membership and committee leadership; promoting the CSMFO brand; and establishing consistency in communication efforts. President-Elect Jesse Takahashi, the executive team, Board members, chapter chairs, and committee chairs and vice chairs did an excellent job of refining the 2014-2016 Strategic Plan with the plan of action. I encourage all of you to visit our website to read the Strategic Plan and Action Plan. The plan reflects the quality of our organization, the value we provide members and the dedication to our profession.
The newly elected Board members, Brent Mason and Karan Reid, and new President-Elect John Adams were announced at the meeting. I want to congratulate them on their new positions and I want to thank all the members that ran for office. I also want to thank Dan Matusiewicz, Finance Director for Newport Beach, his staff and the City of Newport Beach for making it possible for CSMFO to hold the Board meeting at their community center. The City of Newport Beach recently reconstructed their City Hall and it is truly a spectacular building.
I hope all of you and your families have a very happy and healthy 2015 and remember to register for the Annual Conference in Monterey in February. Jesse Takahashi, his Host Committee and the Program Committee are putting together another spectacular event. I hope to see many of you there!
Executive Director’s Message
By: Melissa Dixon, CAE
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m kind of happy to see the end of 2014. It was a good year for CSMFO, don’t get me wrong, but there was an awful lot of loss. People keep telling me that’s what happens when you get older (are they trying to tell me something??), but I don’t remember having this same feeling in 2013. If you or a loved one experienced a loss last year, my thoughts and sympathies go out to you. To the rest of you, count yourselves as lucky and never take family, friendships and love for granted.
As for 2015, I’ll leave you with this:
“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art—write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”
–Neil Gaiman
Happy New Year everyone.
Registration is open for the 2015 CSMFO Annual Conference
2015 CSMFO Annual Conference
Top 7 reasons to attend the 2015 CSMFO Annual Conference
By: Tim Seufert, NBS
As busy finance professionals, you have limited time. We shortened the Top 10 down to a manageable 7, just for that reason! If you are still on the fence, this Top 7 list will get you to attend:
- Engaging keynote speakers, including an update from economist Christopher Thornberg
- Preconference sessions on IT, local revenues, GFOA updates and innovative government partnerships around Monterey
- Many engaging breakout sessions, including Building a successful revenue measure with Jared Boigon (TBWB) and Matt Pressey (City of Salinas)
- The Coleman Report, by local government finance expert Michael Coleman
- The latest update on water rates, by water economist Greg Clumpner (NBS), utility expert Robert DeLoach (DeLoach and Associates), and finance director extraordinaire Martin Kreiger (Desert Water Agency)
- The Thursday night banquet! Music, magic, casino games, karaoke, good food and great company to share it with
- Last but not least, there is much to do before and after the conference: golf and tennis tournaments, wine tour, kayaking, hiking and exploring, Thursday morning fun run, etc.
In total, there are dozens of sessions on CalPERS, GASB, treasury and debt management, and leadership skills. The Exhibit Hall starts early this year on Wednesday, with desserts and other scheduled events. Of course, there will also be great networking throughout the Conference.
Hundreds of your colleagues have already registered, but there is still time to get information and register at www.csmfo.org/csmfo-2015-annual-conference/.
The 2015 CSMFO Annual Conference will run from February 17-20, 2015 in downtown Monterey.
Like us on Facebook!
Start the new year by visiting the CSMFO Facebook page! Like us on Facebook and you could win a new Kindle!
The Facebook page contains a wealth of information including upcoming event information, membership highlights and current topics that affect our profession. During 2015, the Technology Committee is sponsoring the Like Us Campaign. Visit the CSMFO Facebook page during the month of January 2015, like something, and you will be entered in a raffle to win a new Kindle. The winner must be a current CSMFO member, so remember to renew your membership.
Visit the Facebook page regularly for valuable information. Like us today! You could win a Kindle!
GFOA Releases New Website to Guide School Budgeting Best Practices
By: Mike Mucha, Acting Director of Research and Consulting, GFOA
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) released its Smarter School Spending for Student Success website. The website serves as a vehicle to provide school districts information and tools to implement budgeting standards that align with the GFOA’s Best Practices in School Budgeting. The Best Practices in School Budgeting serve as the guide for the launch of the GFOA’s new Award for Best Practices School Budgeting for the 2016-17 budget year.
The website, draft copies of the Best Practices, and more information on the new award program can be found at GFOA’s website, www.gfoa.org. In addition, the new website can be accessed directly with the following link: Smarter School Spending – http://smarterschoolspending.org.
The GFOA invites interested parties to visit the website, utilize the tools provided, and submit feedback.
Included on the website are free, downloadable worksheets to guide an organization in initiating key steps of the strategic process to implement top instructional priorities and a balanced budget. The website includes numerous other resources to guide all aspects of the process from the initial setting of instructional priorities through to implementation, while also incorporating methods for ensuring future sustainability. Imbedded throughout the process are ways to identify and analyze cost savings options and make the difficult trade-offs in order to adopt a strategic financial plan and budget that support top instructional priorities.
Development of the website was completed by the Parthenon Group and KSA-Plus Communications with extensive support from Fayette County Public Schools (KY), Knox County Schools (TN), Lake County Schools (FL), Rochester City School District (NY), the Boston Consulting Group, the District Management Council, and McKinsey & Company. The GFOA will maintain the site going forward as a repository of information and tools as well as a forum for discussion available to school districts striving towards alignment with the GFOA’s Best Practices.
For more information on the project or hot to contribute, please contact Mike Mucha, Acting Director of Research and Consulting, at mmucha@gfoa.org; 312/578-2282.
Coaching Corner
More than 6000 Participated in 2014 CSMFO Coaching Program
– It’s not too late to benefit.
CSMFO’s continued investment in the Coaching Program yielded big results for members in 2014. Thanks to the efforts of the Career Development Committee and strong backing from the Board, outstanding presenters, and CSMFO staff, the Coaching Program, now in its 16th year, delivered the following:
- Participation in webinars and tapping of digital recordings jumped 76% (from 3400 in 2013 to over 6000 in 2014).
- Members actively used the resources — Granicus statistics show that the “Agendas & Archives” pages had over 24,000 views in 2014.
- Expanded webinars (11 in total) addressed timely topics in depth.
- Robust Agenda packets with special efforts to add samples and extra resources helped CSMFO members gain increased value on critical issues (e.g. SEC Scrutiny of Bond Disclosures, new PERS Actuarial Reports, etc.).
- Continued collaborations with Cal-ICMA, PERS, MISAC, League Employee Relations, CSDA, etc. positioned CSMFO members as value-added contributors in their organizations and beyond.
Catch up online 24/7
We know you’re busy and may not have been able to attend all of the webinars or get all of the staff members engaged that you’d like. That’s why the Coaching Program has upgraded technology to give you high-quality video recordings of the webinars.
Go to the “Agendas & Archives” tab of www.csmfo.org/training/webinars to view all of the webinar recordings, now accessible for online streaming or downloadable mp4 format.
Look for announcements about the 2015 webinars via the CSMFO email list.
Welcome New CSMFO Members!
- Tracy Fuller, Financial Advisor, Regional Government Services Authority, Central Coast Chapter
- Mark Young, Managing Director, KNN Public Finance, Central Los Angeles Chapter
- Rozalia Jakabffy, Accounting Manager, Beverly Hills, Central Los Angeles Chapter
- Eric Zetz, Manager, Clovis, Central Valley Chapter
- Bret Harmon, Client Services Manager, MuniServices, LLC, Central Valley Chapter
- Christine Williams, Controller, United Water Conservation District, Channel Counties Chapter
- Don Patterson, Director of FInance & Administration Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, Channel Counties Chapter
- Juanita Guzman, Budget & Finance Manager, Port Hueneme, Channel Counties Chapter
- Nicholas Riolo, Assistant Aide, Mt. Diablo Adult School, East Bay Chapter
- Jim O’Leary, Financial Advisor, Regional Government Services Authority, East Bay Chapter
- Sean O’Shea, Senior Management Analyst, Palo Alto, East Bay Chapter
- Nisha Patel, Accountant, Alameda County Waste Management Authority, East Bay Chapter
- Linh Lam, Accounting & Treasury Manager, Alameda County Water District, East Bay Chapter
- Kim Scott, Accountant, Victorville, Inland Empire Chapter
- Helen Ng, Accountant II, Marin Municipal Water District, North Coast Chapter
- Steven Carmichael, Financial Advisor, Regional Government Services Authority, North Coast Chapter
- Mary Carey, Finance Controller, South Orange County Wastewater Authority, Orange County Chapter
- Brian Moura, Financial Advisor, Regional Government Services Authority, Peninsula Chapter
- Anna Van Degna, Director, STIFEL, Peninsula Chapter
- Bernadette Odonnell, Accountant ,County of Santa Clara, Peninsula Chapter
- Wing-See Fox, Vice President, Raymond James | Morgan Keenan, Peninsula Chapter
- Linda Fujitomi, Accountant, South San Francisco, Peninsula Chapter
- Gary Clark, Principal Accountant, Sacramento, Sacramento Valley Chapter
- Janet Riley, Principal Accountant, Sacramento, Sacramento Valley Chapter
- Sean Peters, Principal Accountant, Sacramento, Sacramento Valley Chapter
- Joseph Thuesen, Dispatch Supervisor-Admin, Sacramento Regional Fire/EMS Communications Center, Sacramento Valley Chapter
- Glenn Lazof, Financial Advisor, Regional Government Services Authority, Sacramento Valley Chapter
- Shay Narayan, Budget Analyst, Elk Grove, Sacramento Valley Chapter
- Joyce Starosciak, IT Manager, Sacramento Regional Fire/EMS Communications Center, Sacramento Valley Chapter
- Ruth Wright, Finance Director, Oroville, City of, Sacramento Valley Chapter
- Grace Petines, Prgraom Manager II, Stockton, Unknown or Unassigned
Chapter Meetings
Central Coast Chapter Meeting – January 8, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Open Government and Transparency
-Speaker: Charlie Francis, Administrative Services Director/Treasurer – City of Sausalito, CA
Monterey Bay Chapter Meeting – January 22, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
“Beacon Economic Report – Focus on Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties”
-Speaker: Jordan Levine, Director of Economic Research
“Watsonville’s New Water Source – A Water Recycle Plant”
-Speaker: Marcus Pimentel, City of Santa Cruz Finance Director
Inland Empire & CMTA Div 8 Chapter Meeting – January 22, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
2015 Inland Empire Economic Outlook
-Speaker: Eadie & Payne, LLP
Education Opportunities
Power of Fiscal Policies/Long Term Financial Planning, Highland, CA
– January 27, 8:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Bill Statler – Director of Finance & Information Technology, City of San Luis Obispo
Intermediate Governmental Accounting, Oakland, CA
– January 28, 8:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Susan Mayer
Career Opportunities
CSMFO provides government finance professionals with numerous resources for enhancing and advancing their careers. Visit the job opportunities page of the CSMFO website for a list of current job openings.