Financial Management for Local Government

This series is designed to cover all aspects of sound financial management for local governments in developed and developing countries and economies in transition. Concepts of good governance, transparency and accountability are woven into the text of every chapter, and the needs and potential obstacles to greater decentralization and democracy are highlighted. Each volume is self-contained with its own Trainer’s Guide, exercises and web resources. Chapters are divided into basic and advanced concepts and the detailed relationship of each topic to the others covered in the series is explained. VOLUME 1: CREATING A FINANCIAL FOUNDATION Financial policies, planning and citizen participation are cross-cutting topics that impact all aspects of local government decision-making. This volume provides decision makers with a basic financial foundation and will be especially useful for policy makers and chief executive officers. Sections: Financial Policy Making * Financial Planning * Citizen Participation * Evaluating Financial Condition VOLUME 2: MANAGING THE OPERATING BUDGET The short-term operating budget and long-term capital investment plans are the engines that drive local government. The operating budget is the primary mechanism for providing public services and demonstrating accountability for decisions made during the budget process. More technical in nature than volume 1, many of the more basic ideas will be of use to policy makers, while the advanced concepts are written principally for chief executive officers, finance managers and department heads. Sections: Operating Budget * Financing the Operating Budget VOLUME 3: MANAGING THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN Highlighting citizen participation, transparency and accountability, this volume describes how to design and implement a capital investment planning and budgeting system, with a more advanced section dealing with value management and real estate analysis. It also examines how the financing for the investment plan is developed and implemented, reviews the benefits of instituting a debt management program, looks at types of financing, methods for selecting credit instruments and the mechanics for obtaining financing, as well as reviewing credit analysis, disclosure requirements and administration of the debt. Sections: Capital Investment Plan * Financing the Capital Investment Plan VOLUME 4: MANAGING PERFORMANCE This final volume reviews four of the cornerstones of good governance: accounting, performance measures, asset management and procurement. Basic sections cover fundamental, need-to-know information for policy makers, accompanied by more advanced technical treatment for financial managers and CEOs. Sections: Accounting * Performance Measures * Asset Management * Procurement