Author: Deb Wagner - Director of Accounts
Welcome to your new role as a municipal finance official in Massachusetts! The Bureau of Accounts (BOA) is here to support you in any way we can. We have accumulated some resources that we think will be helpful to you as you conduct your work in local government.
In our regulatory role, BOA approves tax rates, reviews free cash which is then available for appropriation once certified, and reviews and approves the Schedule A. Debt for cities, towns, counties and districts may be issued through our “State House Notes Program” certified by the Director of Accounts. We also review audit reports of various Massachusetts local governments submitted by independent CPA firms.
BOA interacts with officials from all areas of municipal government, from mayors and selectboards to finance committees, accountants/auditors, collectors, treasurers and assessors in the performance of our duties. One of our most important roles is providing guidance and training around a multitude of municipal finance issues. BOA staff are each assigned to municipalities, regional school districts and special purpose districts. Find out who your BOA field representative is by viewing this list for districts and this list cities and towns. Contact information for BOA field representatives may be found on the DLS Staff Directory.
Training and Informational Resources – Subscribing to the DLS YouTube Channel will provide you with our latest training webinars and videos. Our Municipal Finance Training and Resource Center is organized by position to help municipal officials more
easily find resources that will help in their specific roles. Our webinars are always full of important information and I suggest watching Free Cash Upload & Certification Process, andExcess and Deficiency Upload Process.
Other valuable resources include a video on The Role of the Accountant, The Role of the Finance Committeeand Completing the Tax Rate Recap Forms Webinar. We have also recently conducted a Balance Sheet Checklist webinar.
For anyone in a financial management role in their community, I recommend The Role and Responsibilities of the Collector, The Role and Responsibilities of the Treasurerand any of the resources located in these “Resources by Process” section of our training website including Analyzing the Fiscal Health of Your Communityand Budgeting and Long-range Financial Planning. The latter has tools and templates that can assist you in planning for the long-term fiscal health of your community.
Timely Information and DLS Gateway – We always recommend subscribing to DLS Alerts. In addition, it’s important to note that if you’re one of our municipal partners who submits information to DLS, make sure you are signed-up for DLS Gateway by contacting your local Gateway administrator.
The Bureau of Accounts is ready to assist you in any way we can in your new role. Please reach out anytime to your BOA field representative and let us know how we can help. We’re here to help!
Helpful Resources
City & Town is brought to you by:
Editor: Dan Bertrand
Editorial Board: Sean Cronin, Scott Ditto, Janie Dretler, Jessica Ferry, Brianna Ortiz, Christopher Ketchen, Paula King, Jen McAllister and Tony Rassias
| Date published: | June 18, 2026 |
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