City & Town Newsletters

This article presents the benefits of implementing a Capital Improvement Plan as a blueprint for planning a community's capital expenditures. A Capital Improvement Plan is a strategic tool that outlines the municipality’s long-term infrastructure needs along with its financial capacity to achieve them.

This article highlights the importance of regular tri-board meetings in towns that bring together three key policymaking boards, the select board, school committee, and finance or advisory committee.

This article highlights the importance a cash flow budget as a valuable tool in ensuring the availability of cash to cover expenditure obligations.

This article provides an understanding of municipal revenue as a key component of local budgeting. It highlights the four primary revenue sources for cities and towns with a focus on the strategic use of these revenue streams.

This article provides guidance to assist local officials understand how the overlay and overlay surplus work in order to help local governments maintain fiscal responsibility and accountability.

This article highlights free tools offered by DLS that can help local officials build robust peer analyses in minutes. These resources allow communities to benchmark against comparable municipalities, identify trends, set realistic goals, and communicate complex financial realities to residents and stakeholders with greater clarity.

Using the Financial Management Resource Bureau's Financial Indicator tool to understand and budget the most reliable revenue source available to a community, it's property tax levy.

This article provides pointers, general guidance, and resources for local officials to ensure a smooth, timely, and accurate year-end close process.

This article from the DLS Bureau of Local Payments analyzes historical trends in the Community Preservation Fund distribution.

This article explains how the collection of committed real and personal property taxes affects free cash in a municipality. It explains the starting point of the free cash calculation, impacts on free cash and it provides helpful examples.