Field Assignment 2: Interview with Chief Financial Officer (or similar)
1. What are some of your department/organization/municipality’s greatest challenges
when preparing a budget?
The biggest challenge is trying to project what will happen and what the city priorities will be over the next year to year and half. Then, once you determine those projects/priorities you have to determine the associated costs and line item expenditures expected.
2. How do you overcome these challenges?
By meeting with department heads and managers who will be responsible to get the information and cost estimates need for the projected budget.
3. What are some of the most effective strategies your
department/organization/municipality uses to ensure adequate staffing while
simultaneously controlling budgetary expenses for personnel?
We evaluate the revenue projections to determine if we have any anticipated increase in revenues that will allow us to add more budget funding for salaries and benefits and possible new positions. The City Manager is responsible for developing our HR strategy and
determining hiring priorities.
4. In what ways does the department/organization maintain competitive salaries
and benefits?
Sometimes in small to medium government it can be difficult to remain competitive on salaries, but we can usually be fairly competitive in overall benefits. The City of Clarkston is planning to do full compensation study this year to get a better understanding of where we stand on our competitiveness.
5. What issues play into the total cost of personnel expenditures within
your department/organization/municipality (i.e. base salary, health insurance,
retirement contributions, training etc.)?
Base salary, need for overtime, health, dental and vision insurance, Social Security and
Medicare taxes paid by City, Worker’s Compensation Insurance, and Retirement
Contributions and cost of uniforms and equipment are all part of the total personnel
expenditures. Then of course your factor in training, travel, and other specific needs for
the position.
6. What is the process for determining budget cuts within
your department/organization/municipality?
If there is a need for budget cuts, the City Manager and City Finance Director try to evaluate the overall budget. One benefit of be a municipal government is that we have the authority to increase Property Tax rates to increase our revenues to help cover any anticipated budget needs. However, that is a serious consideration that has to taken to our elected officials with justification for the need to increase taxes for our residents.
7. What recent cuts, if any, had to be made to your department/organization/municipality?
The City of Clarkston has not had to make budget cuts over the past few years as we
received considerable additional revenues from the Federal Government during the
Covid19 pandemic.
1. Did they affect personnel? No cuts in personnel.
2. What was the reason for the cuts? There were no cuts, so far.
8. How do you maintain effective communication with your team members and other
stakeholders to ensure smooth operations?
Frequently meeting with department heads on a routine basis and preparing monthly budget reports for our elected officials, city management and department heads as to where we are on a monthly basis.
The post Field Assignment 2: Interview with Chief Financial Officer (or similar) 1. What appeared first on essayfab.