Municipal Governance Training and Resources

Information related to the general governance of Massachusetts cities and towns.

Table of Contents

Municipal Governance in Massachusetts

Financial Process Workflows

The sample workflows below demonstrate how the turnover, accounts payable, and payroll processes can be managed in your community. While the workflows include internal control and other best practices that should be incorporated in your individual processes, the workflows can be tailored to your specific community for staff references.

These charts emphasize that no municipal official can be successful without working hand in hand with other local staff. The success of the revenue turnover, accounts payable, payroll, and other financial management processes rely on the interconnectivity and communication between a community’s financial officers. This interconnectivity also reinforces institutional continuity during times when officers leave their position.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

The accounts payable process manages the payment for the purchase of goods and services. An accounts payable policy should detail staff responsibilities, submission requirements, timing, and approval and authorization processes. Note that you can learn additional details about out each step presented in this workflow by hovering over the “i” icon located in each action.

Download the Accounts Payable Workflow

TURNOVERS

Turnovers are the transfer of departmental revenues to the treasurer. A turnover policy should identify the segregation of duties and include the requirement that each department use a prenumbered receipt book, a schedule of how often and when turnovers should take place, and that a standardized turnover cover sheet or data input be submitted with each turnover. The collector should also provide a turnover, even in a combined treasurer/collector office, to create a necessary paper trail for cash reconciliations and the annual audit.

Download the Revenue Turnover Workflow 

Date published: July 30, 2020
Last updated: May 14, 2021

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