NC Finance Connect - Courses Display

Entering into Local Government Contracts

Ethics Education for Local ABC Boards

This online training is for all members of local Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) boards. Local ABC general managers, attorneys representing ABC Boards, and other local ABC staff may find it helpful to participate. In 2010 the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation that requires local ABC board members to receive 2 hours of ethics...

Fundamentals of Property Tax Collection

This course focuses on law and practice governing the collection of county and municipal property taxes.The course is designed to give tax collectors who have taken office in the last two or three years a grounding in the fundamentals of what is expected of them in the office. It is also useful both as a refresher course for more experienced...

Introduction to Local Government Finance

This introductory course provides basic instruction in local government and public authority finance and financial management. Areas of instruction include the basic legal authority and requirements governing local government revenues, budgeting processes, cash management, purchasing and contracting, expenditure control, conflicts of interest,...

Managing the Finance and Tax Offices

This course provides an overview of management and communication issues relevant to local government finance and tax offices. Participants will learn the skills and practices necessary to improve both their individual performance as managers and the effectiveness of their offices. Topics will include internal controls, employment law, public...

NC Finance Officers' Spring Conference

This conference focuses on topics of interest to those involved in municipal and county finance. Local government finance officers will have the opportunity to meet with their peers to discuss common problems and seek solutions in the fields of accounting, finance, taxation, employee relations, management, and systems and procedures. In addition,...

NC Local Government Auditing, Reporting, and Review

This one-day course will focus on audit quality for local governments in North Carolina. Program Topics: GAAP UpdateNew Yellow Book Standards and Other ComplianceHow to Prepare and AFIRAudit QualityPension and OPEB UpdateLGC Update and Common Reporting IssuesNew Procurement Standards The course addresses all levels of Local Government...

NC Local Government CGCIO

The CIO Certification Program is a 11-month course that lays the foundation for assessing and addressing the most critical issues facing information technology (IT) leadership in local governments. The purpose of the course is to equip leaders with the requisite tools to manage and improve their organizational technology assets. The course will...

NC State CGCIO

The CIO Certification Program is a 10-month course that lays the foundation for assessing and addressing some of the most critical issues facing IT leadership in state government. The purpose of this program is to equip leaders with the requisite tools to manage and improve their organizational technology assets. Participants will address major...

National Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO)

The CGCIO Certification Program is a 12-month "on-line" course that lays the foundation for assessing and addressing some of the most critical issues facing IT leadership in the public sector. The purpose of this program is to equip leaders with the requisite tools to manage and improve their organizational technology assets. Participants will...

Public Employment Law Update

This course provides an in-depth analysis of current issues in public employment law and an overview of the previous year's developments. The Public Employment Law Update is open to employees of North Carolina state and local governments and affiliated organizations who have responsibilities for human resource functions, and to attorneys in...

Putting PCI in Perspective – Security & Compliance Aligned

Social Media Strategies II-Beyond the Basics

If you are a local government professional who is actively managing your town/county social media accounts, this program is for you. Now that you’ve established a social media presence, how do you get the most from it? How can you use Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms to inform and engage your community?Do you know how to develop an effective...

State Treasurers Conference

This one-day conference provides a forum to update local government finance officials and independent auditors on current governmental accounting, auditing, and financial management issues.

Utilities Billing and Collections Administration

This course provides an overview of the authority and requirements for establishing customer accounts and billing and collecting public enterprise utility fees. The focus will be on water, sewer, and solid waste enterprises. Participants will engage in a series of interactive exercises to apply general concepts to common scenarios that arise in...

Water and Wastewater Finance Strategies Workshop

The Environmental Finance Center's annual Water and Wastewater Finance Strategies workshop will provide utility practitioners with new skills and up-to-date information on pricing, infrastructure finance planning strategies, and funding resources.2018 Agenda

Working Together: Counties, School Boards, and Local Funding for Public Schools

This one-day course provides an overview of the governance and funding structures of public schools in North Carolina. It focuses particularly on the relationship between counties and local school administrative units. Through a series of lectures and interactive exercises, participants will learn about the legal roles and responsibilities of...

Working Together: County Funding for Local Schools

This workshop will help county commissioners better understand the role that counties play in public education. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, and interactive exercises, participants will learn about county funding and school oversight responsibilities. Participants will also explore how to manage their relationships with local...

Public Records Law: Finance, Tax, Economic Development & Contracting Webinar

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

This webinar provides something for just about everyone in local government -- how our state's public records laws apply to local government finance, tax, economic development, and public contracting. When are bids open to public inspection? Can the public see documents related to a major economic development project or incentive agreement? Are...

The Nuts and Bolts of Tax Foreclosures in North Carolina Webinar

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

On October 20th experts offered their advice on how to solve common problems and avoid potential pitfalls in the tax foreclosure process. This webinar is aimed at both experienced practitioners and newcomers to the world of tax foreclosures.

Best Practices for Boards of Equalization and Review Webinar

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

Board of equalization and review members, tax administrators, assessors, and county attorneys will benefit from this interactive discussion of the best practices for hearing property tax appeals at the county level. The Machinery Act creates very few statutory guidelines for county board of equalization and review procedures, resulting in wide...

Webinar On-Demand: In Rem Foreclosure

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

More and more counties are turning to in rem foreclosure as a cost efficient method of collecting property taxes on real property without involving attorneys. In this webinar, expert practitioners of in rem foreclosure from across the state, including Valerie Curry of Orange County, will share their experience with the nuts and bolts of the...

Attachment and Garnishment (Webinar On-Demand)

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

SOG faculty member Chris Mclaughlin reviewed the law governing the Machinery Act’s attachment and garnishment procedures while expert practitioners from across the state shared their practical tips on how best to use this powerful collection remedy.

Property Tax Exemptions and Exclusions Webinar

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

This on-demand webinar focuses primarily on eligibility requirements (ownership and use) commonly applied by the Machinery Act. Among other topics, it covers the government, charitable, educational, and religious exemptions as well as residential property tax exclusions. This webinar was originally broadcast on June 29, 2017.

Property Tax Listing & Assessing Dilemmas Webinar

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

This on-demand webinar focuses on a variety of thorny problems when listing and assessing property for local taxes. Topics include mobile homes, heir property, and discoveries. Experts from both the School of Government and the Department of Revenue help unravel difficult problems in those areas and answer questions from the audience.

New Federal Uniform Guidance Requirements

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

Does your unit of government spend federal grant and loan funds? If so, this on-demand webinar, originally broadcast live on April 24, 2018, is for you. New federal requirements that apply to most categories of federal loan and grant funds – referred to as the Uniform Guidance – go into effect on July 1, 2018. These requirements affect how you...

Ethics for Local Elected Officials Live and On-Demand Webinars

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

This is the webpage for the yearly Live and On-Demand Webinars for Ethics training for local elected city and county governing board members. These webinars satisfy the 2 clock hours of local ethics training required by state law for elected and appointed members of city councils and county boards of commissioners. This training is required to be...

When Disaster Strikes, Are You Ready?

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

Hurricanes, ice storms, flooding, tornadoes, wildfires – no part of our state is immune from disasters. Are you ready for the next one? This on-demand webinar, offered in collaboration with the NC Division of Emergency Management, will provide information on steps you can take to be prepared. Drawing from lessons learned in past disasters,...

What To Do About Short-Term Rentals? Local Regulation and Occupancy Taxes

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

With the growing popularity of AirBnB’s and other short term rentals, more and more North Carolina local governments are questioning whether to regulate these properties and wondering how best to ensure collection of their occupancy taxes. In this on-demand webinar, the School of Government’s Chris McLaughlin and Rebecca Badgett are joined by...

Performance Management for Local Government

Next Offering: October 18th, 2018 EDT

Once your local government has its performance measures, then what? How can measures be used to help improve the quality and efficiency of services? What tactics have proven successful? This one-day workshop, which is designed for city and county managers, department heads, and other local government officials who have previously completed an...

Property Tax Listing and Assessing in NC

Next Offering: October 23rd, 2018 EDT

This class focuses on the basic law and practice governing the listing and assessing of property for tax purposes.

Cash Management and Investment of Public Funds

Next Offering: October 29th, 2018 EDT

This course is one of the core courses for the finance officers' certification program. It is offered once a year in October. Once dates are confirmated, they will be updated in the Offering section of this site. Participants will learn about goals, process and organizations for successful cash management; how to evaluate banking services and...

Contracting for Construction and Design Services

Next Offering: October 29th, 2018 EDT

This seminar addresses topics of interest to those involved in construction contracts or in the procurement of the services of engineers and architects. Topics include bidding procedures; construction methods; minority participation and reporting requirements; legal aspects of construction contracts; contract administration; and selection of...

Budgeting in Local Government

Next Offering: November 6th, 2018 EDT

Completion of this course fulfills one of the core course requirements for the Local Government Finance Officers Certification Program. City and county managers, finance officers and staff, budget administrators and analysts, and others who have responsibilities for annual budget preparation will benefit from this course.

Effective Supervisory Management Program

Next Offering: November 12th, 2018 EDT

Supervisors in local government today face unique and complex challenges when working with others and serving their communities. This program provides newly promoted and veteran local government supervisors and front-line managers with the opportunity to better understand and practice basic supervision skills. You will have the opportunity to:...

Capital Budgeting & Infrastructure for Elected Officials

Next Offering: November 15th, 2018 EDT

One of your most important roles as an elected leader is to plan ahead for meeting the future needs of your county or municipality. Planning for and financing public investments in such capital needs as schools, parks, greenways, public safety centers, and water/sewer extensions and upgrades are significant and complex responsibilities.This...

Intermediate Purchasing Seminar

Next Offering: November 27th, 2018 EDT

This three-day seminar will sharpen participants' purchasing skills and deepen their understanding of the legal and practical aspects of public purchasing.This course is intended for officials with two or more years of experience in local governmental purchasing, and will cover bidding and property disposal, capital leasing, performance management...

Facilitation Skills for Successful Meetings

Next Offering: December 7th, 2018 EDT

Lack of consensus. A few people dominate the discussion. Lots of idea, but no clear decisions made. There has to be a better way.We’ve all left meetings that we don’t feel were the best use of our time. So what separates a good meeting from a bad one? Learning the skills of group facilitation will enable you to offer helpful guidance and improve...

Fund Accounting Principles & Practices

Next Offering: January 29th, 2019 EDT

This 2-day course will build upon the fundamentals of the governmental accounting environment as presented in an Introduction to Local Government Finance. Participants will learn about the basic accounting and financial reporting requirements of each of the fund types. Basic budgetary reporting requirements will also be addressed. Government-wide...

Leading with Emotional Intelligence

Next Offering: February 1st, 2019 EDT

Did you know that emotional intelligence is a better predictor of workplace effectiveness than IQ is? And it's up to 5 times as important when you compare people within the same career? When you think about what behaviors characterized your most effective and least effective bosses, you probably are thinking about emotional intelligence skills...

Governmental Accounting & Financial Reporting

Next Offering: March 26th, 2019 EDT

This course covers the fundamentals of governmental accounting and financial reporting: concepts, standards, and procedures with a special emphasis on North Carolina laws and regulation. It is one of the core courses for the finance officers' certification program. The class uses lectures, class discussions, and practical exercises to address a...

Basic Principles of Local Government Purchasing

Next Offering: April 30th, 2019 EDT

This course is designed for new local government purchasing officials and covers basic principles and legal requirements for local government purchasing.Topics include the following:Competitive bidding requirements for purchasing and construction contractingPurchasing ethics and conflicts of interestPractical skills such as vendor relations,...

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Courses & Conferences

Accounting and Auditing Update

Advanced FLSA Workshop 2018

Advanced Family and Medical Leave Act Regional Workshops

Basic Local Government Contracting and Procurement

Budget for Information Technology

Budgeting and Financial Basics for County Commissioners

Budgeting and Financial Basics for Local Elected Officials

Capital Financing in Local Government

Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

Development Finance Toolbox

Entering into Local Government Contracts

Ethics Education for Local ABC Boards

Fundamentals of Property Tax Collection

Introduction to Local Government Finance

Managing the Finance and Tax Offices

NC Finance Officers' Spring Conference

NC Local Government Auditing, Reporting, and Review

NC Local Government CGCIO

NC State CGCIO

National Certified Government Chief Information Officer (CGCIO)

Public Employment Law Update

Putting PCI in Perspective – Security & Compliance Aligned

Social Media Strategies II-Beyond the Basics

State Treasurers Conference

Utilities Billing and Collections Administration

Water and Wastewater Finance Strategies Workshop

Working Together: Counties, School Boards, and Local Funding for Public Schools

Working Together: County Funding for Local Schools

Public Records Law: Finance, Tax, Economic Development & Contracting Webinar

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

The Nuts and Bolts of Tax Foreclosures in North Carolina Webinar

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

Best Practices for Boards of Equalization and Review Webinar

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

Webinar On-Demand: In Rem Foreclosure

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

Attachment and Garnishment (Webinar On-Demand)

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

Property Tax Exemptions and Exclusions Webinar

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

Property Tax Listing & Assessing Dilemmas Webinar

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

New Federal Uniform Guidance Requirements

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

Ethics for Local Elected Officials Live and On-Demand Webinars

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

When Disaster Strikes, Are You Ready?

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

What To Do About Short-Term Rentals? Local Regulation and Occupancy Taxes

Next Offering: This webinar is avaliable on demand.

Performance Management for Local Government

Next Offering: October 18th, 2018 EDT

Property Tax Listing and Assessing in NC

Next Offering: October 23rd, 2018 EDT

Cash Management and Investment of Public Funds

Next Offering: October 29th, 2018 EDT

Contracting for Construction and Design Services

Next Offering: October 29th, 2018 EDT

Budgeting in Local Government

Next Offering: November 6th, 2018 EDT

Effective Supervisory Management Program

Next Offering: November 12th, 2018 EDT

Capital Budgeting & Infrastructure for Elected Officials

Next Offering: November 15th, 2018 EDT

Intermediate Purchasing Seminar

Next Offering: November 27th, 2018 EDT

Facilitation Skills for Successful Meetings

Next Offering: December 7th, 2018 EDT

Fund Accounting Principles & Practices

Next Offering: January 29th, 2019 EDT

Leading with Emotional Intelligence

Next Offering: February 1st, 2019 EDT

Governmental Accounting & Financial Reporting

Next Offering: March 26th, 2019 EDT

Basic Principles of Local Government Purchasing

Next Offering: April 30th, 2019 EDT