Author: Sean Cronin – Senior Deputy Commission of Local Services
Every year, new people enter public service for the first time in cities and towns in a variety of roles and positions across the Commonwealth. On behalf of the Division of Local Services (DLS), I want to welcome all of you. To assist with the transition, we’re dedicating this edition of City & Town to newly elected or appointed local officials. Below you’ll find a handy crib sheet of links to introductory municipal finance guidance, trainings, data and other helpful resources. Our hope is that those who are new to the field will refer to this edition as needed and those who might have more experience will share it as they see fit. To begin, let’s look at some basics.
- Learn more about DLS by viewing our introductory video.
- Sign up for DLS Alerts. Click here to sign up or contact us at cityandtown@dor.state.ma.us. Whether it’s timely recommendations to keep in mind during the closing of the fiscal year or Cherry Sheet estimates, our City & Town e-newsletter and alerts will keep you informed of upcoming training opportunities, municipal finance law updates, local aid announcements, and other important municipal finance-related notifications.
- Confirm that your contact information is accurate in the DLS Local Officials Directory (LOD). Municipal clerks play a critical role in updating the Local Officials Directory, so make sure to check with your clerk. For additional information highlighting the importance of the LOD, please read the following Frequently Asked Questions about the Local Officials Directory.
- Bookmark the DLS Municipal Finance Training and Resource Center. From accounting and auditing to local option excise, we offer trainings on a host of topics, including a section specifically dedicated to municipal finance for new local officials.
- Know your assigned DLS Bureau of Accounts (BOA) field representative and your Bureau of Local Assessment (BLA) field advisor. If you’re not sure who’s assigned to your community, visit our online staff directory.
- Familiarize yourself with DLS resources such as the municipal glossary, the municipal calendar, and the Legal Index for Municipal Officials.
- Subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Not only are our videos helpful for local officials, they can also serve as an informational tool you can provide to interested residents and taxpayers with questions about subjects such as Proposition 2 ½ and property tax assessments and abatements.
In 2018, the Local Government Workforce Skills Gap Task Force’s report was released and recommendation #4 noted that “[E]xisting resources such as the DLS New Officials Finance Forum provide one-day seminars on policies, practices and procedures in local government. More long-term programs that formally support and foster the next generation through mentorship, professional development and career guidance are needed.”
In order to fulfill that recommendation, DLS has retooled our approach to training and professional development, shifting away from an annual gathering of new local officials to a robust online Training & Resource Center available 24/7, 365 days a year. This resource is loaded with helpful trainings, tools and templates that will assist you in your new role.
On behalf of the entire DLS staff, I want to express our sincere appreciation for all that the local officials of Massachusetts do to sustain and support local government. If you have thoughts or suggestions on ways we can improve, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you!
Helpful Resources
City & Town is brought to you by:
Editor: Dan Bertrand
Editorial Board: Marcia Bohinc, Linda Bradley, Sean Cronin, Emily Izzo, Lisa Krzywicki and Tony Rassias
| Date published: | June 16, 2022 |
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