Here’s my CPA – Accountant advice for today,  “Get your bank reconciliation done today”!  Yes, monthly bank reconciliations are a vital internal control the helps detect fraud.  Don’t fall behind preparing your bank reconciliations!  City Managers, walk over to your Finance Department right now, and ask your Finance Director to show you a hard copy… Read More »

Let me ask you this: when was the last time you felt truly inspired by a City Manager or Director, not because they told you what to do, but because they helped you grow? The truth is, traditional management styles just don’t cut it anymore. People don’t want a City Manager or a Director hovering… Read More »

Every election season, ordinary neighbors, people just like you, step up to take on one of the toughest jobs in America: leading at the local level. These leaders aren’t just names on a ballot. They’re people who roll up their sleeves, make hard decisions, and carry the responsibility of shaping the very neighborhoods where we… Read More »

Think about it, when was the last time you actually sat down and read one of your department’s job descriptions? For some government organizations, those documents feel like dusty old files tucked away in a cabinet, rarely updated and often forgotten. But here’s the thing: your job descriptions aren’t just paperwork; they’re the first handshake… Read More »

This article does not apply to management meetings with the City Manager, or staff meetings in our Finance Department, and this certainly doesn’t apply to any City Council meetings I have ever attended.  Well, this is not true, I do recall attending a Council meeting at the City of Bell, California in 2010 where hundreds… Read More »

As residents of your local community, you are at the top of the hierarchy, even above the Mayor and Council.  We City Directors and staff work for the City Manager to ensure the most efficient delivery of municipal services to your community.  But we City staff are also residents of the community we live in,… Read More »

Have you ever thought about what it would feel like to have a career that actually makes a difference in people’s everyday lives? Public service isn’t just another job, it’s a chance to wake up each day knowing the work you do matters. Think about it: whether it’s making sure families have clean water, helping… Read More »

Think about how much the workplace has changed since you first started your career. Fifteen years ago, most organizations, including local governments, relied almost entirely on full-time employees. Fast forward to today, and nearly half of the global workforce is made up of non-employee workers. That’s freelancers, contractors, consultants, and temporary staff, people who are… Read More »

Let’s be honest—in some communities, trust in government isn’t what it used to be. In fact, it’s hit some of the lowest levels in history. Think about that for a moment: only about one in four people said they trusted the federal government in 2021. And here’s the kicker, it now ranks last in trust… Read More »

You’ve probably led one of those meetings where someone talks, and talks, and talks — and no one else can get a word in edgewise. It’s annoying, and potentially damaging to team morale. Of course, you can’t always expect that everyone will contribute, but there are ways you can encourage broader participation. When you open… Read More »