Wyoming Legislative Service Office
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WYOMING LEGISLATIVE SERVICE OFFICE ISSUE BRIEF OTHER STATES’ LOCAL GOVERNMENT FISCAL PROCEDURES TRAINING August 2020 by Karla Smith, Senior Program Evaluator BACKGROUND Legislative Service Office staff presented an issue brief summarizing fiscal procedures training for Wyoming local government and political subdivision fiscal officers to the Management Audit Committee during its January 2020 meeting.1 The Committee requested further information regarding other states’ statutory requirements for fiscal procedures training for local government and special district clerks and treasurers. This issue brief examines the statutory requirements of Wyoming and nine comparator states regarding local government training in fiscal procedures. WYOMING Wyoming statutes do not require local government fiscal officers to complete state fiscal procedures training, but do require the State Auditor and the State Treasurer to provide voluntary education programs: To enhance the background and working knowledge of political subdivision treasurers in governmental accounting, portfolio reporting and compliance, and investments and cash management, the state auditor and the state treasurer shall conduct voluntary education programs for persons elected or appointed for the first time to any office or as an employee of any political subdivision where the duties of that office or positions of employment include taking actions related to investment of public funds and shall also hold annual voluntary continuing education programs for persons continuing to hold those offices and positions of 1 Wyoming LSO Issue Brief: Fiscal Procedures Training, January 2020 P a g e | 1 20IB004 • RESEARCH AND EVALUATION DIVISION • 200 W. 24th Street • Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002 TELEPHONE 307-777-7881 • EMAIL [email protected] • WEBSITE www.wyoleg.gov PAGE 2 OF 8 employment. The State Treasurer and State Auditor may contract with other persons with special knowledge in this area to provide these programs. 2 Recently, the State Auditor’s Office, in conjunction with the State Treasurer’s Office, launched a new training program aimed at increasing knowledge of audit standards and compliance.3 The State Auditor’s Office currently offers training for state fiscal staff and most courses are relevant and available to special district and local government fiscal personnel. These topics include: Budget 101, GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), and Cost Accounting. The State Auditor’s and the State Treasurer’s Offices are working with entities such as the Wyoming County Treasurers Association, the Wyoming Association of County Officers, Wyoming Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers, Wyoming Association of Conservation Districts, and the newly formed Wyoming Association of Special Districts to integrate and expand voluntary training by including topics such as: the Wyoming Public Records Act, basic governmental accounting, reporting and compliance, investments, and cash management. One training conference occurred in February 2020, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer and fall conferences were cancelled. 4 In addition to the training requirement for the State Auditor’s Office, Wyoming Statute 9-5-507 requires the Department of Audit, when necessary, “to instruct county and municipal officers in the proper mode of keeping accounts.”5 The Department provides financial training resources such as an Accounting Manual, Census Manual, Special District Handbook, and the Wyoming Municipal Handbook on their website.6 COMPARATOR STATES SUMMARY The following nine states were selected for comparison with Wyoming: • Arizona • New Mexico • Colorado • North Dakota • Idaho • South Dakota • Montana • Utah • Nebraska State statutes and approaches to local government fiscal procedures education varied among the nine comparator states. Like Wyoming, some states take a “carrot” approach whereby the state offers fiscal training but does not require local governments to participate. Other states follow a 2 W.S. § 9-4-831(j). 3 Wyoming LSO Issue Brief: Fiscal Procedures Training, January 2020 4 Per official at the State Auditor’s Office. 5 W.S. § 9-1-507 (a)(iv). 6 Management Audit Committee meeting minutes, January 29, 2020. https://wyoleg.gov/InterimCommittee/2020/SMA-20200129MeetingMinutes.pdf 20IB004 • RESEARCH AND EVALUATION DIVISION • 200 W. 24th Street • Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002 Telephone 307-777-7881 • Email [email protected] • Website www.wyoleg.gov PAGE 3 OF 8 “stick” approach which requires local government officials or fiscal officers to complete training. Two states do not have any statutory requirements for local government fiscal training. Local government official/employee required to complete fiscal training Utah statute requires local district board members to complete fiscal training provided by the Utah State Auditor.7 Similar legislation is currently pending in the Nebraska Legislature. If passed, 2020 LB781 will require city treasurers to complete annual continuing education provided by the Nebraska State Auditor.8 Table 1. States require local government fiscal training. Legal Training State Fiscal Training Requirement Training Provider authority Recipients Nebraska 2020 City Treasurers must take Training must be approved City introduced continuing education annually. by State Auditor of Public Treasurers bill LB781 Accounts. Utah Utah Code Local District Board members State Auditor. Local § 17B-1-312 must complete training within district one year of taking office. board members Source: LSO statute review. State government entity required to provide fiscal training Similar to Wyoming, four states (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, South Dakota) have enacted statutes which require an agency, division, or section of state government to provide fiscal procedures training or guidance. A fifth state (Montana) has a similar requirement in administrative rule. Although each of these five states require trainings be offered, local governments are not required to participate. Three states (Colorado, Montana, New Mexico) have a state agency local government department or division which provides the fiscal trainings and resources. Two states have a legislatively appointed state auditor (Arizona and South Dakota) and the legislative audit departments provide training or guidance. The Arizona Office of Auditor General is a fiscal auditing function with approximately 220 employees. The South Dakota Department of Legislative Audit performs fiscal audits and approves independent public accountants who perform government audits. Neither office performs program evaluations. 7 Utah Code § 17B-1-312 8 The State Auditor of Nebraska, Utah, and Wyoming is an elected executive branch official. 20IB004 • RESEARCH AND EVALUATION DIVISION • 200 W. 24th Street • Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002 Telephone 307-777-7881 • Email [email protected] • Website www.wyoleg.gov PAGE 4 OF 8 Table 2. States provide local government fiscal training, but attendance is voluntary. Legal Training State Fiscal Training Requirement Training Provider authority Recipients Arizona A.R.S. § Arizona Auditor General must Arizona Auditor Counties, Cities & 41- enforce uniform accounting and General. Towns, Community 1279.21 instruct local officers. Colleges, School Districts, K-12, Charter Schools, Special districts Colorado C .R.S. § Division encourages and Department of Officials and 41- cooperates in training events, Local Affairs, employees of local 1279.21 serves as a clearinghouse for Division of Local governments: providing technical assistance, Government. municipal develops solutions, and makes corporations, quasi referrals to state and federal municipalities, agencies. counties, local improvement and service districts Montana ARM Division provides technical Department of Local Governments 2.1.101(f) assistance and training on Administration, accounting and financial State Fiscal records and works with local Services Division, governments to ensure Local Government compliance. Services Bureau. New NMSA § Division has authority and duty Department of Local public bodies Mexico 6-6-2(k), to make rules and prescribe Finance and (l) how local public bodies prepare Administration, their budgets and financial Local Government reports. The Bureau provides Division and assistance and training. Financial Management Bureau. South SDCL § Department provides Department of Counties, Dakota 4-11-2. accounting manuals and Legislative Audit. municipalities, assistance to implement school districts accounting systems, holds periodic workshops and offers assistance by telephone and on- site. Source: LSO statute review 20IB004 • RESEARCH AND EVALUATION DIVISION • 200 W. 24th Street • Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002 Telephone 307-777-7881 • Email [email protected] • Website www.wyoleg.gov PAGE 5 OF 8 No statutory requirement for fiscal training Idaho and North Dakota do not have requirements for local government fiscal training or the provision of guidance materials. However, both states have professional associations which fulfill this role by offering training to local governments or political subdivisions. Table 3. States without required local government fiscal training. State Training Provider Training Recipients Idaho Association of Idaho Cities provides training and specific City fiscal officers fiscal certifications. Many city fiscal officer job descriptions require certification. North Dakota Various professional associations provide training and Cities, Counties, the State Auditor may assist. School Boards, etc. Source: LSO statute