Municipal Data and Financial Management

Rick Kingsley - Bureau Chief
E-Mail: kingsleyf@dor.state.ma.us

MDM/Tab is responsible for developing and maintaining the Municipal Databank; coordinating the preparation and dissemination of Cherry Sheet state aid estimates and the distribution of quarterly local aid; and updating comprehensive financial spreadsheets on municipal revenues, expenditures and demographic data found on the Division's website. The Technical Assistance Section coordinates the Division's on-site financial management assistance program. In the course of serving cities and towns for over 25 years, MDM/TAB has built a substantial data and knowledge base, as well as an unique expertise in municipal finance, which it now shares through this website.

Joe Markarian, Director
E-Mail: markarianj@dor.state.ma.us

The DLS Technical Assistance Section provides consultant-type services to cities and towns on municipal operations, government structure and matters of financial management. TA conducts financial management reviews, regionalization studies, charter analyses and provides email responses to questions on day-to-day fiscal issues. Published reports, best practices, financial calculators and inter-municipal agreement drafting guides are among the resources posted to the financial management assistance area of our website. New information is continually added to keep local officials up-to-date on ways to improve financial operations in their community.

Lisa Juszkiewicz, Director
E-Mail: juszkiewicz@dor.state.ma.us

The Municipal Databank collects, analyzes and distributes financial, demographic and economic data on Massachusetts cities and towns. Financial data comes from a series of reports that municipalities are required to submit annually to DLS. Demographic and economic data is collected from other state and federal agencies. The Databank develops and maintains databases used to collect data, assists users in the interpretation and use, and participates in research projects with other agencies and/or organizations.

The Cherry Sheet is the official notification by the Commissioner of Revenue to municipalities and school districts of estimated state aid to be paid and charges to be assessed over the next fiscal year. As the state budget process unfolds updated local aid proposals are posted. Cherry Sheets are issued once the state budget is enacted by the Legislature and approved by the Governor.