Learn the fundamentals that every local government manager should know. Back by popular demand, this three-part webinar series takes a forward-looking, strategic approach to budgeting while showing you how to improve the process and promote economic vitality in your community.

Based on the fourth edition of ICMA’s A Budgeting Guide for Local Government, this series is hosted by coauthor Dr. Michael Overton, Associate Director of Interdisciplinary Data Sciences at the University of Idaho, and Scott Huizenga, City Manager of the City of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas.

What You Will Learn:

• Lessons for budgeting and the budgeting cycle
• Budget preparation and legislative approval
• Executive implementation
• Financial controls, communication, and compliance
• Accounting and auditing
• Understanding the overall financial picture
• Projections and forecasting
• Capital budgeting
• Performance measurement
• Long-term planning

Like the book, this program is designed for local government managers, assistant managers, and department heads who would like to gain a better understanding of the fundamentals of the budgeting process.

Who Should Attend

This program is designed for local government managers, assistant managers, department heads, and finance staff who would like to gain a better understanding of the fundamentals of the budgeting process.

Sessions and Schedule

ALL PROGRAMS WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 1:00 TO 2:30 PM EASTERN

Thursday, May 29, 2025 | Session 1: Budget Basics

In the first session of the series, you will discuss what the budget is and what to do with it, the overall budgeting cycle, and the evolution of the budget.

Thursday, June 5, 2025 | Session 2: Understanding Financial Management

In the second session, you will discuss the overall financial picture: being aware of the future; projections, forecasts, and financial planning; complying with the rules; and budget and financial policies.

Thursday, June 12, 2025 | Session Three: Long-Term Budgeting and Planning

In the third and final session, you will discuss effective capital budgeting, performance measurement, strategic planning, and long-term planning models.

Note: All sessions will be recorded and available on demand shortly after the conclusion of the live event. Participants will have access to the recordings for six months.

What You Will Need

Required Reading

• A Budgeting Guide for Local Government, Fourth Edition
  Available in PRINT

About Licenses

Registration is by the license, meaning one license per participant. Group discounts are applied at checkout as follows: 2 or more registrants = 35% off for members / 7% off for nonmembers; 5 or more registrants = 40% off for members / 12% off for nonmembers; 10 or more registrants = 50% for members / 25% off for nonmembers. To purchase multiple licenses, enter the desired number of participants into the "Quantity" selector above and click "Add to Cart"; see the group registration instructions below for more information on registering your participants.

Only the purchaser needs to be an ICMA member to receive the member rate. Nonmembers may request invoices on behalf of members in their community to receive the member rate; please send requests via email to learning@icma.org. Staff registration lists for group purchases must be submitted within six months of purchase.

Registered participants will receive a downloadable certificate of completion upon course completion. While groups are welcome to view the series together from an auditorium or conference room using a single license, only one certificate will be issued per license.

Instructions for Registering Groups

1. Download the registration spreadsheet »
2. Fill in all visible columns (please do not reveal the "hidden" columns).
   NOTE: When filling in the State column, please use the two-letter, all-caps abbreviation (ex. Maryland should be MD). For the Address column, you may use your organization’s main office address rather than personal addresses of each registrant.
3. Once the list is completed, email list to Julian Lamphear at jlamphear@icma.org and add the words "Budgeting Guide Registration for [your organization]" to the subject line of the email. All staff members must be submitted within six months of purchase; unused licenses will expire after this period.
4. Allow four to five business days for processing. When access is granted, your staff members will receive an email with next steps. 

For more information, please contact the webinar program manager Julian Lamphear at jlamphear@icma.org.