New York State Association of Counties
Office of the State Comptroller
NYS County Treasurers and Finance Officers Association
Sponsored By:
County
46th Annual
Finance School
May 2-4, 2012
Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel
Syracuse, NY
Keeping Your County
Keeping Your County
Keeping Your County
Financial House in Order
Financial House in Order
Financial House in Order
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM Registration 9:30 AM -10:30 AM WORKSHOP Albany Update 10:30 AM -10:45 AM Break 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM WORKSHOP
Real Property Tax Levy Limit
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Luncheon
Hon. Thomas DiNapoli (Invited)
NYS Comptroller
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS TRACK A/B
FOIL 2012(A)
Information Technology Governance (B)
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM Break
3:15 PM - 4:30 PM CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS TRACK A/B Accounting Standards Update (A) County Finance Issues After a Natural Disaster (B)
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Sponsor’s Reception & Dinner Banquet WEDNESDAY
MAY 2
Agenda
THURSDAY
MAY 3
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM Registration 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM General Breakfast
8:30 AM - 10:15 AM NYS County Treasurers and
Finance Officers Association: Breakfast Meeting
9:00 AM - 10:15 AM WORKSHOP
Controlling County Insurance Costs
10:15 AM -10:45 AM Break
10:45AM - 12:00 PM KEYNOTE ADDRESS: David Rabiner
“New Insights on Power, Influence, and Personal Leadership” Sponsored by Salient
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM Annual Awards Luncheon
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS TRACK A/B Dealing With Negativity in the Workplace (A)
Land Banking 101 - Overview (B)
2:45 PM - 3:15 PM Break
3:15 PM - 4:30 PM CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS TRACK A/B Ethics in Government (A)
Taxation Issues on Properties Involved in
Mineral, Gas and Oil Extraction Including Land Banked and Other Delinquent Properties (B)
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM Reception & Dinner Event at the Dinosaur BBQ
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM WORKSHOP
Real Property Tax Roundtable
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM WORKSHOP
State & Local Retirement System Update
FRIDAY
Albany Update
Representatives from NYSAC and the Division of the Budget will provide an update of the State budget, legislative priori-ties and other issues and concerns impacting counpriori-ties. (Wed. 5/2, 9:30am-10:30am)
Real Property Tax Levy Limit
OSC staff will share what they have learned following the first round of tax cap filings for calendar year entities. Topics will include: filing compliance rates, common reporting errors, tips for avoiding those errors, and what to expect for next year. (Wed. 5/2, 10:45am-12:00pm)
Freedom of Information Law(FOIL)/Open Meetings Law 2012 News
A representative of the Committee on Open Government will provide an overview and answer questions about the Free-dom of Information Law (FOIL), which governs the rights of access to government records. An explanation of the Open Meetings Law, which concerns the conduct of meetings of public bodies and the right to attend those meetings and an overview of the recent changes to the law will also be presented. [A discussion of the principles underlying the FOIL and the Open Meetings Law will be featured.] (Wed. 5/2, 1:30pm-2:45pm)
Information Technology Governance
Counties invest a considerable amount of resources into information technology (IT) including computers and related equipment, software, Internet access and training. We rely on IT systems for storing important financial and nonfinancial information, accessing the Internet, communicating through email and reporting to State and federal agencies. These systems and the data they hold are valuable and need to be protected from unauthorized, inappropriate and wasteful use. Management, including the governing board, is responsible for ensuring that the right IT controls are in place, and that they are performing as intended. An IT Specialist from the State Comptroller’s Office will provide a template struc-tured around twelve key areas of IT security that is intended to help you exercise effective oversight of IT operations and serve as a starting point for discussions with personnel who are responsible for the day-to-day management of your com-puter operations. (Wed. 5/2, 1:30pm-2:45pm)
Accounting Standards Update
This session will provide an assessment of the impact of GASB Statement 61, the Financial Reporting Entity: Omnibus, as well as issues that arose with implementation of GASB Statement No. 54, Fund Balance Reporting and Governmental Fund Type Definitions. In addition, the session will discuss recent accounting bulletins and legislative changes, including GASB's proposed pension accounting changes, as well as ongoing and upcoming GASB projects that may impact New York’s counties. (Wed. 5/2, 3:15pm-4:30pm)
County Finance Issues After a Natural Disaster
2011 brought an unprecedented series of natural disasters that impacted, and in some cases, devastated counties across the state. Clean up from these events not only involve shovels and volunteers but also local, State, and Federal officials, FEMA, insurance claims adjusters as well as other computer recovery .
CPE Credits: If you are participating in CPE qualifying sessions for CPAs, you must sign attendance sheets at the workshops to receive CPE credits. In addition, CPE forms must be filled out and returned to the Office of the State Comptroller. All workshops are CPE eligible.
Pelletier Institute Credits: Participants will earn 4 elective & 1 continuing education credit in the Dennis A. Pelletier Institute.
Workshops
Workshops
experts and records managers. Join us for a discussion with county representatives and insurers who navigated the recent impact of 2011’s natural disasters for tips to better prepare you for any future events in your county. (Wed. 5/2, 3:15pm-4:30pm)
Controlling County Insurance Costs
Planning and accounting for the escalating costs of health insurance and workers compensation is becoming an increas-ing challenge for counties. This session will first unpack the factors forcincreas-ing these costs to rise, and then provide some new methods counties are employing to stabilize and account for those expenses. (Thur. 5/3, 9:00am-10:15am)
Dealing with Negativity in the Workplace
One of the biggest drains on organizational effectiveness is rampant negativity, It effects productivity, team dynamics and job retention, among other things. David Rabiner’s engaging program helps leaders and managers create a workplace atmosphere where workers feel empowered, respected and more positive about their contributions. (Thur. 5/3, 1:30pm-2:45pm)
Land Banking 101 – Program Overview
Vacant, abandoned and tax-delinquent properties can scar a community and hinder economic development. In this workshop, representatives from Empire State Development will explain how your county can create a land bank to help return blighted properties to productive use and revitalize your county’s economy. (Thur. 5/3, 1:30pm-2:45pm)
Ethics In Government
This session will provide an overview of the codes of conduct and other related legal requirements of county elected and appointed officials under state and local ethics laws, policies and procedures. (Thur. 5/3, 3:15pm-4:30pm)
Taxation Issues on Properties Involved in Mineral, Gas and Oil Extraction
Including Land Banked and Other Delinquent Properties There has been much talk about a possible expansion of
cer-tain mineral, gas and oil extraction in New York State. Any expansion of these activities can create a variety of questions regarding taxation of extracted resources and/or property involved. Hear about current law taxation of these types of activities and any proposals that might modify the existing structure. (Thur. 5/3, 3:15pm-4:30pm)
Real Property Tax Roundtable
There are numerous bills pending in the State Legislature that could (and will) alter Real Property Tax laws in New York. The latest updates on how this may impact county real property tax operations now and in the future will be discussed. (Fri. 5/4, 9:00am-10:00am)
State and Local Retirement System Update
Representatives from the Office of the State Comptroller will provide an update of issues and legislation with an impact on the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System. (Fri. 5/4, 10:15am-11:30am)
