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6,250 subscribers www.TML1.org Volume 72, Number 12 July 19, 2021 State Treasurer Lillard Metropolitan Statistical Areas provides options for classification to remain at 50,000 The Office of Management and Jackson. Keeping the designation at Block Grants. These dollars support depositing ARP funds Budget (OMB) announced July 14 50,000 ensures that critical funding programs for low and moderate-in- it is abandoning a proposed plan to streams will not be cut off for vital come people, public transportation As local government entities change the criteria a city must reach programs,” said TML Executive projects, economic development, begin to receive federal dollars from to be considered a Metropolitan Director Anthony Haynes. “This water and sewer projects, public the American Rescue Plan, I want to Statistical Area (MSA). OMB an- decision also protects some of health programs, and the elimina- point out the options available to you nounced it will maintain the MSA Tennessee’s more rural communi- tion of slums and blight. through the Tennessee Department designation at 50,000 in population ties from having to compete with In addition to filing formal of Treasury for depositing public rather than raise the threshold to much larger, urban communities comments with the OMB, TML also funds. This educational information 100,000 in population. for federal funding.” worked with members of the Ten- may help you evaluate your invest- Three Tennessee cities – Cleve- TML, in conjunction with its nessee Congressional delegation, ment options. land, Morristown and Jackson – federal partner the National League seeking their assistance to overturn The Tennessee Department of would have been directly affected of Cities, advocated against the the proposed changed. Treasury manages state and local by the proposed change. But ulti- change and outlined the harmful “We appreciate the assistance of governments’ short-term invest- mately, it easily could would have effects the proposal would have on U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and ments through pooled funds known had a combined effect on many of MSA cities. Bill Hagerty, and U.S. Reps. Chuck as the State Pooled Investment Fund Tennessee’s smaller, more rural Two primary funding sources Fleischmann, Diana Harshbarger, (SPIF) and the Local Government cities and towns who would have frequently cited as being affected and David Kustoff – who strongly Investment Pool (LGIP). Treasury to compete for federal funding. by MSA designations are Federal advocated against the change,” manages all of these funds with the David H. Lillard “This is a victory for the peo- and Highway Transportation dol- said Haynes. “We are especially objectives of safety, liquidity, and a TN State Treasurer ple in Cleveland, Morristown and lars and Community Development See MSAs on Page 7 competitive return on investments. The LGIP is commingled with the additional LGIP account for ARP SPIF for investment purposes and funds. The application for the LGIP provides local public finance offi- can be found at Treasury.tn.gov/ Atoka PD host community forum cials an option to invest funds until LGIP under the “Apply or Manage they are needed, earning the same Your Account” section. return on investments as the State Participants of the LGIP may focusing on cyber security, fraud Treasurer earns on the State’s cash also utilize a second pooled in- portfolio. vestment option managed by the By KATE COIL such as email Funds from the American Tennessee Treasury Department, TML Communications Specialist scams, social me- Rescue Plan received through the which is the Intermediate Term dia threats, gift state may be directly deposited into Investment Fund (ITIF). The ITIF Cybercriminals stole an es- card fraud, digital an LGIP account. A separate LGIP is a longer-term investment option timated $1.8 billion from senior device safety, and account for ARP funds may also be for public funds where participants citizens in the U.S. in 2020, part other emerging established, allowing the funds to be may benefit from a longer yield of an overall $4.2 billion scammed trends. tracked separately from operating curve. The objective of the fund is from Americans. While the funds. If your entity receives ARP to achieve a superior level of total The FBI reported a 69% jump event was open funds directly from the federal return at a reasonable level of risk in cybercrime nationally last year to all citizens, it government, you may establish measured over a longer-term invest- with residents over the age of 50 also specifically an LGIP account and transfer the ment horizon. The disclosure for the losing the most money, between targeted seniors funds to the Treasury Department ITIF outlines the requirements for $9,000 and $10,000 on average. in the commu- for investment in the LGIP. If your participation as well as the invest- The Atoka Police Department nity as their age entity has an existing LGIP account ment risks, which may be found at: noticed a similar trend in their own group is often the for managing operating cash, you Treasury.tn.gov/LGIP community. Capt. Chris Ellwood most targeted by may wish to consider requesting an See ARP FUNDS on Page 7 with the Atoka Police Department scammers. said officials noticed numbers of Ellwood said reported fraud were climbing in the Assistant U.S. community, something Ellwood Attorney Debra said was reflected in conservations Ireland made a officers were having with commu- significant point nity members. about why the “Since January, we have seen scammers often an increase in reported fraud just to target the elderly. our particular area of about 14%,” “Back in The recent education event held by the Atoka Ellwood said. “The amount of their day, when Police Department is part of new community-ori- dollars each victim was losing was the phone rang ented policing efforts by the department. TML Annual Conference also climbing from about $3,000 to $5,000. We also know for that 14% who reported, there is probably registration is now open! about 40% who didn’t report they Registration for the TML Annual Conference and Expo in Chatta- were scammed because they were nooga, slated for Sept. 18-21, is now open. The four-day conference will embarrassed or lost a lot of money feature top-notch speakers and workshop sessions, several special events, to somebody. A lot of citizens were ample time to network with your peers, and an exhibit hall with reputable noting that they were experiencing companies ready to meet your needs. Several conference sessions will an alarming number of robo-dials meet the continuing education requirements for the Certified Municipal and text messages. We were hear- Finance Officers (CMFO) and Utility Board Member Training ing of some new identified scams To register, go to www.tml1.org/81st-annual-conference-and-expo just out of our local area. Our com- munity was starting to get alarmed. Friday, September 17 So we sat down and talked with 1 pm - 7:45 pm MTAS Elected Officials Academy Level II some other partners about what we could do together.” Saturday, September 18 Ellwood said Chief Anthony 8 am – 12:30 pm MTAS Elected Officials Academy Level II Rudolph charged the department 1 am - 5 pm Conference Registration with finding a way to work with citizens on the problem. The result 1 - 4:30 pm CMFO Workshops (Set of 3) After noticing a 14% increase in fraud reports in their community, was an event titled “Coffee, Cops, 1- 4:30 pm Utility Board Training (Set of 3) the Atoka Police Department conducted an informational meeting and Cyber: Let’s Talk” to discuss discussing fraud, cybercrime, and other issues. Reports of phone 5:30 - 6:30 pm Meet & Greet Reception cybersecurity issues. The Atoka and internet fraud have increased in the passed year with seniors Police Department presented the being a major group targeted by scammers. Sunday, September 19 seminar in conjunction with 25th 7:30 am Golf Scholarship Outing District Attorney General Mark you always answered it,” he said. is what we have to get across to our 9 am - 5 pm Registration Davidson and featuring keynote “After 50 years of always answer- elderly population. We have to say 9:30 am - 3 pm Exhibit Hall Open speaker Assistant U.S. Attorney ing that phone, it’s hard to change go ahead and answer the phone, 10:30 - 11:30 am CMFO Workshop Debra Ireland discussing issues that behavior. That paradigm shift See ATOKA on Page 7 10:30 - 11:30 am Utility Board Training Workshop 10:30 - 11:30 am Panel Presentation: Cybersecurity & Ransomware Attacks To master cybersecurity, focus on the Three Ps 11:30 am - 1:30 pm Lunch By JOE HOWLAND 1. Passwords down and leave them 11:45 am- 1:45 pm J.R. Wauford Ice Cream VC3 Chief Information Officer Too many cities still use default visible. 1:15 - 2:15 pm Roundtable Discussions passwords, obvious passwords • Use a password on all 2:30 - 3:15 pm District Meetings While cybersecurity can seem (such as a child’s name, pet’s name, devices. 3:30- 5 pm Opening Session like an overwhelming problem, we college mascot, birth date, etc.), or • Do not use simple or 6 - 8 pm Host City Reception: Chattanooga Aquarium strongly and consistently encour- weak passwords (like “123456”). obvious passwords. We age cities to start with the initial step Half of all security breaches in- strongly recommend using Monday, September 20 of addressing the most important volve stolen or easily guessable passphrases. 7:15 - 8 am Breakfast: Grab & Go low-hanging fruit risks we call passwords. The weaker or looser the • Do not save passwords to 8 - 8:45 am Annual Business Meeting the threePs: passwords, patching, security around a password (such as websites and applications.

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