Municipal Finance Study

Municipal Finance Study: What’s Next?

Part I. Updates and Calendar (updated 5/07)

Municipal Finance Forums

January 2007 The Fiscal Policy Update Committee was pleased with the turnout at our two forums on municipal finance, both on Saturdays in January. The Amherst forum on January 20^th was a wonderful opportunity to connect with Leagues in the western part of the state. The forum at UMASS Boston on January 27^th was filled despite a frigid outside temperature. Approximately 120 individuals attended the forums, a good base for the next phase of the FPU municipal finance project – the local self-study. Forum materials are available both on the League website for downloading and as a DVD of the entire Boston forum (see Part III for details).

Local Study

April through September 2007:  The study materials from the Fiscal Policy Update Committee for the local study on municipal finance were distributed to Leagues in April. The purpose of the local study is for individual Leagues to “Know Your Municipal Finances” and to take the fiscal pulse of their own community, using data collection and interviews with municipal leaders. Local studies should be returned by September 30, 2007, so the Fiscal Policy Update Committee can use this information in preparation of the consensus materials, which will go out by November-December 2007. However, if the local study timeframe does not fit your League schedule, we urge you to do the local study when convenient as it is important preparation for consensus meetings.

Consensus Materials (projected timeframe)

November/December 2007: Consensus materials will be sent to local Leagues.

Local Consensus Meetings
January- April 2008: Local consensus meetings may be held anytime between January and March 2008.

Part II: "Questions and Answers About the Local Study"

Part III: "Additional Resources for Study"