Wednesday, Thursday, November 12, November 13, 2008 PRE-CONFERENCE EVENTS (SEPARATE FEE)

Transcription

1

2 Wednesday, November 12, 2008 Thursday, November 13, 2008 PRE-CONFERENCE EVENTS (SEPARATE FEE) 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. 7.2 CGFO/CPE NO PREREQUISITES WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITY RATEMAKING See insert for program details (separate $275 ticket, lunch included). 9:00 a.m. Noon CGFO Study Group GFOAT Board Working Session (tentative) 1:30 3:00 p.m. COMMITTEE MEETINGS Ethics Committee FRRR Committee (GASB) Membership Committee Legislative Committee Newsletter/Web Site Committee Professional Awareness Committee Professional Development Committee Program Development Committee Scholarship, Fellowship and Foundation Committee Women s in Public Finance Network 3:00 5:00 p.m. GFOAT EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING 3:00 5:30 p.m. CGFO TESTING 4:00 6:00 p.m. REGISTRATION 5:00 6:30 p.m. WELCOME RECEPTION 7:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. REGISTRATION 7:00 8:30 a.m. WELCOME ABOARD: NEW MEMBER AND NEW ATTENDEE BREAKFAST (for all conference attendees!) Our standard breakfast buffet offers an opportunity to meet new members and first-time participants. A meet-and-greet ice-breaker will start at approximately 8:00 a.m. We encourage members to sit in groups with their region so they can network with area officials. Moderator: Collin Boothe, Financial Manager, City of Conroe, and GFOAT Membership Committee Co-Chair 8:30 9:30 a.m. CHARTING THE COURSE: WELCOME AND OPENING GENERAL SESSION (1.2 CGFO/CPE) Uncharted Territory Moderator: Karen Rhodes, Director of Budget, City of Plano, and GFOAT President 9:40 10:40 a.m. CASTING OFF: CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS (1.2 CGFO/CPE) Debt Management Update: Have the Storms Passed? After almost two years of housing market traumas and the residual damage to banks, insurance underwriters, and most related industries, are there still ripple effects in the market? What is the aftermath doing to agency ratings? Energy Consumption: Issues on the Horizon Recent legislation in the form of H.B requires public entities to establish a goal of reducing their energy consumption by 5 percent annually. What steps are others taking to accomplish this requirement? What are the payoffs and costs of compliance? 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Understanding Actuarial Fundamentals Having a grasp on the underlying methodology of actuarial analysis is critical to the decisions we make from their reports. What are the mechanics, assumptions, and various methods used, and what are the variables that affect how we manage the information provided? How deep do we need to dive in order to make informed decisions? 10:40 11:00 a.m. FURLOUGH: REFRESHMENT BREAK 11:00 a.m. Noon SETTING SAIL: CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS (1.2 CGFO/CPE) National Incident Management System (NIMS): What Finance Directors Need to Know In the continuing tsunami of federal mandates, Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 issued in February 2003 requires the adoption of NIMS by state and local organizations as a condition of federal preparedness assistance (grants, contracts, and other activities). Is your organization compliant? Will you be reimbursed by FEMA? Learn the basics of this directive BEFORE a disaster strikes.

3 SETTING SAIL: CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS (1.2 CGFO/CPE) (continued) Fuel Purchasing Options and Evaluating Fuel Alternatives Is the high price of fuel sinking your ship? Learn about different options for purchasing fuel and the pros and cons of different fuel and fleet vehicle alternatives. HRAs and HSAs: Turning Threats into Opportunities What are the pros and cons of health retirement accounts and health savings accounts? How can they help both employers and employees manage the rising costs of health care? Noon 1:15 p.m. LUNCH FROM THE GALLEY/BUSINESS MEETING AND AWARDS Presiding: Karen Rhodes, Director of Budget, City of Plano, and GFOAT President 1:30 3:00 p.m. STAYING THE COURSE: CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS (1.8 CGFO/CPE) Structuring a CIP Program: From the Shipyard to the Sea Enjoy this soup to nuts description of how to structure and manage a capital improvements program. In particular, learn how to incorporate some of GFOA s best practices theories into application. Sales Tax Reporting and Analysis: Seeing Through the Fog The state comptroller s office collects and maintains a wealth of information that can help users understand the underlying sources of their sales tax revenues. What data is available? How can we access it? How can we analyze it to improve our projections and collections? 3:00 3:30 p.m. FURLOUGH: REFRESHMENT BREAK 3:30 5:00 p.m. PORT OF CALL: CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS (1.8 CGFO/CPE) New Options for Managing Risk in Public Funds Management In the ebb and flow of economic uncertainty, new fiscal policies of the federal reserve and new innovations in banking have increased options for securities and collateral in public funds investment. Hear how you might be able to improve the performance or security of your portfolio. GASB/OPEB Updates: How Are Phase I Cities Navigating Their Course? What are the implications of pay as you go, irrevocable trusts, and defined contribution directions? Hear from three entities that are each going different directions in the implementation stage of this new accounting standard. Commandeering Your Budget Process: Best Practices The national GFOA program for the budget award generates a great avenue to hear about best practices from organizations around the country. This topic not only covers some of the award criteria, but also offers additional insights into innovations in budgeting. Speaker: John Fishbein, Senior Manager, Technical Services Center, Government Finance Officers Association, Chicago, Illinois 6:30 10:30 p.m. THURSDAY NIGHT SOCIAL EVENT: Due to the relocation of the conference, GFOAT will notifty you when details for the social event have been arranged. Friday, November 14, :30 8:45 a.m. AHOY, MATES: NETWORKING BREAKFAST (Breakfast buffet for all conference attendees!) 9:00 10:15 a.m. LAND HO! CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS (1.5 CGFO/CPE) Municipal Revenue Sources in Texas: A Comprehensive Look at Our Options Are your revenues at high tide or low tide? Published by TML as the authoritative source of revenue abilities of cities in Texas, primary author Bennett Sandlin presents the highlights of municipal revenue sources for local governments in Texas. Speaker: Bennett Sandlin, General Counsel, Texas Municipal League Administering Economic Development Programs: Taking the Helm Chapter 380 agreements. TIFs. Abatements. What should a public finance official know to help organize, manage, optimize, and ultimately end these agreements? Embracing Chaos: Navigating the Turbulent Sea of Change Management How is the baby boomer demographic phenomenon affecting workforce issues, retirement programs, and basic service delivery? 10:15 10:30 a.m. FURLOUGH: REFRESHMENT BREAK 10:30 a.m. Noon PULLING INTO PORT: CLOSING SESSION (1.8 CGFO/CPE) Hot Topics Moderator: Karen Rhodes, Director of Budget, City of Plano, and GFOAT President Legislative Update Speaker: Bennett Sandlin, General Counsel, Texas Municipal League Closing Keynote Address: The Future of Public Finance Professional: Anticipating and Responding to the Whirlpool of Issues Threatening Our Industry, Our Local Economies, and Our Profession Speaker: Ken Rust, GFOA National President Noon DRAWING FOR DOOR PRIZES (MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN) BonVoyage!

4 General Information REGISTRATION FEES: By October 20 GFOAT member $275 After October 20 GFOAT Member $325 By October 20 - GFOAT Non-Member $375 After October 20 GFOAT Non-Member $425 First-Time Attendee $150 Student $ 60 Thursday Social Event Guest $ 35 HOTEL INFORMATION: The Sheraton Dallas Hotel is the site for the GFOAT Fall Conference. The hotel, located at 400 North Olive Street in Dallas, has extended a room rate of $129 single/double. In order to receive this special rate, your reservations must be made by Monday, October 20. To make a reservation, please call the hotel at and mention that you are registered for the GFOAT Fall Conference. CANCELLATION AND SUBSTITUTION POLICY: If you are registered and cannot attend, we encourage you to send a substitute. If you cannot send a substitute, a $45 cancellation fee will be assessed if written cancellation is received by Monday, October 20. No refunds will be honored after that date. THURSDAY NIGHT SOCIAL EVENT: Due to the relocation of the conference, GFOAT will notifty you when details for the social event have been arranged. CONTINUING EDUCATION: An application has been submitted to the State Board of Accountancy for CEU/CPE continuing education units, (no prerequisites required). CGFO credits will also be offered. CONFIRMATIONS/BADGES: Conference badges will be mailed in advance. If you do not receive your packet in the mail, you can pick up your registration materials on site. REMEMBER PLEASE BRING YOUR BADGE AND ANY OPTIONAL TICKETS YOU ORDERED TO THE CONFERENCE. CGFO TESTING: The Certified Government Finance Officer s exam will be offered from 3:00 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12, at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel. If you are interested in sitting for the test during this time, please contact Suzette Clair at suzette@gfoat.org or Becky Brooks at blbrooks@gfoat.org. Also, there will be a study group meeting at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel from 9:00 a.m. Noon on November 12, hosted by Carl Wessels, co-chair of the Professional Development (CGFO) Committee. SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: Let us know on the registration form if you need special assistance of any kind. WE WANT TO HELP! In order to respond to any special requests, we would appreciate as much advance notice as possible. Thank you. CAR RENTALS: AVIS discounts are available at or by calling Your Avis World Wide Discount (AWD) Number is J Enterprise Corporate Class discounts are available at or by calling Your Corporate Class number, which is Y21222, can be assessed by entering the association acronym, TEX, at the Corporate Reservation section of the Web site. GOLF: Due to the relocation of the conference, we have no information about a golf tournament at this time. More information will be available later. QUESTIONS: Call the TML Program Development Department at , or fallconference@tml.org.

5 GFOAT 2008 FALL CONFERENCE PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION (SEPARATE FEE) SHERATON DALLAS HOTEL WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2008 WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITY RATE MAKING (SEPARATE $275 TICKET, LUNCH NOT INCLUDED) 8:00 A.M. 4:00 P.M. 7.2 CGFO/CPENO PREREQUISITES Tentative Agenda 8:00 8:15 a.m. Registration (coffee and pastries will be available) 8:15 8:25 a.m. Introduction Dan Lanning, R.W. Beck, Inc. 8:25 9:00 a.m. How Ratemaking Supports the Utility s Mission Allen Mullins, Pros Consultants 9:05 9:45 a.m. Getting Ready for the Rate Study: Data Requirements Jennifer Ivey, City of Red Oak 10:05 10:45 a.m. Determining Revenue Requirement Andy McCartney, Black & Veatch 10:50 11:30 a.m. Workshop One Dave Yanke, R. W. Beck, Inc. 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Lunch on Your Own 12:35 1:15 p.m. The Cost Allocation Analysis Mike Dutton, Black & Veatch 1:20 2:00 p.m. Rate Design Alternatives Carolyn Marshall, CPA 2:20 2:50 p.m. Selling the Rate Adjustment Terry Lowery, Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) 2:50 3:20 p.m. Lessons Learned Panel of city staff lead by Terry Lowery, Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) 3:25 4:00 p.m. Workshop Two Dave Yanke, R.W. Beck, Inc. Participants will receive a copy of the American Water Works Association s (AWWA) M-1 Principles of Water Rates, Fees, and Charges. Sign up on the registration form included in this brochure or at The number of participants is limited, so register today!

6 Registration Government Finance Officers Association of Texas 2008 Fall Conference Sheraton Dallas Hotel, Dallas November 12-14, 2008 THREE WAYS TO REGISTER: (Your registration will not be processed until payment is received.) Register online with Fax this form with credit card payment to: 1 credit card payment at: (click on Conferences/Education ) Policy If you are registered and cannot attend, we encourage you to send a substitute. If you cannot send a substitute, a $45 cancellation fee will be assessed if written cancellation is received by Monday, October 20. No refunds will be honored after that date. If you need additional forms, please copy this form. The name badges and confirmations will be mailed in advance. If an address is provided, you will also receive confirmation via . Please type or print the information requested Full Name: Badge Name: Title: City/Organization: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: Fax: I require the following special accommodations: Registration Fees: Amount GFOAT Member by October 20 $275 GFOAT Member after October 20 $325 GFOAT Non-Member by October 20 $375 GFOAT Non-Member after October 20 $425 First-Time Attendee $150 Student $ 60 Thursday Social Event Guest $ 35 Pre-Conference Session: Water and Wastewater Utility Rate Making (Wednesday) $275 Required Please indicate below concurrent sessions you will attend: Mail this form with payment to: TML Administrative Services 1821 Rutherford Lane, Suite 400 Austin, TX Total $ Thursday: 9:40 10:40 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Noon 1:30 3:00 p.m. 3:30 5:00 p.m. Friday: 9:00 10:15 a.m. Debt Management NIMS CIP Program Managing Risk Municipal Revenue Energy Consumption Fuel Purchasing Sales Tax Reporting GASB/OPEB Economic Development Actuarial Fundamentals HRAs and HSAs Budget Process Change Management 2008 GFOAT Fall Conference CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS: MasterCard Visa Am Ex Discover Cardholder's Name (Please Print) Acct # Signature Exp. Date FOR TML OFFICE USE ONLY: Business Check $ Personal Check $ Total $ Batch No. Id #