Registration Opens
8AM
CIP Planning
9 to 9:50 AM | 1 CPE
CIP process overview with emphasis on pain points, managing expectations, and communication.
Speakers:
Don Bessler, Engineering Director, City of Glendale
Amy Lindsay, Assistant Budget and Finance Director, City of Glendale
Macy Walker, Budget and Program Manager, City of El Mirage
Magic 8 Ball, Dartboard, or ChatGPT? How to Forecast Revenue
10 to 10:50 AM | 1 CPE
Learn how three different cities forecast revenue as they present an overview of their process. Be prepared to ask all your forecasting questions during the Q&A portion of the session.
Speakers:
Robert Baer, Budget Manager, City of Avondale
Yiannis Kalaitzidis, Finance Director, Town of Marana
Chris Olvey, Management & Budget Deputy Director, City of Mesa
Presentation 1
Presentation 2
Presentation 3
Break
10:50 to 11:00 AM
Current Compensation Trends and Use and Conduct of Compensation Surveys
11 to 11:50 AM | 1 CPE
An overview of current compensation trends, applying the knowledge gained from the compensation study, and using these trends effectively to benefit your organization.
Speaker:
Matt Weatherly, President, Public Sector Personnel Consultants
Lunch
12PM
Budgeting for Revenue Uncertainty
1 to 1:50 PM | 1 CPE
With increased stakeholder expectations for transparency and engagement, Budget Officers in all levels of government need reliable best-practice solutions. GFOA provides us with standards, tools, and practical solutions for public-engagement. Together with organizational leadership, the Budget Officer’s role as decision architect fosters interagency relationships with data-supported approaches to uncertainty.
Speaker:
Maryn Belling, Finance Director, Gila County
Break
1:50 PM
An Update on All Things TPT
2 to 2:50 PM | 1 CPE
This session will explore a variety of tax issues impacting cities and towns, including:
- The looming residential rental tax preemption, League efforts to recover the revenue loss, and some ideas from other cities and towns.
- Distribution of the revised IGA with the DOR for TPT administration and what to expect.
- What’s happening with the Municipal Tax Code Commission, including plans for the first few agendas (hopefully soon).
- What to expect regarding potential legislation that will affect TPT and other city revenues in the next session.
- Questions and answers about TPT or any other revenue/budget/finance issue.
Speaker:
Lee Grafstrom, Tax Policy Analyst, League of Arizona Cities and Towns
Conclude
3 PM | 1 CPE
Speaker Bios
Robert Baer Bio:
Rob Baer has been the Budget Manager for the City of Avondale since March 2019. Before working for Avondale, he worked in Budget for the City of Mesa. Rob has a Master’s of Public Administration from Arizona State University and undergraduate degrees in Economics and Political Science. In his spare time, Rob enjoys running, hiking, and hanging out with his two-year-old daughter.
Maryn Belling Bio:
Maryn currently serves as Finance Director at Gila County. In addition to serving the GFOAz board and education committee, she chairs the County Supervisors Association CFO organization. Maryn has been with Gila County for 5 years. She completed the GFOA leadership academy earlier this year and is working toward CPFO certification. When she’s not at her desk, Maryn collaborates with the United Fund of Globe-Miami board of directors to support 2 dozen local non-profits with operational grants. Before moving to Arizona in 2008, Maryn served communities in Metro Detroit and upstate New York.
Don Bessler Bio:
Don is the Engineering Director for the City of Glendale. He is responsible for the design & construction delivery of a majority of the City’s CIP. Don has held a variety of municipal positions in AZ, CO, VT and WY communities. Don was awarded the distinguished, Public Works Leadership Fellow in 2015 in recognition of his career achievement and the accomplishments of his teams.
Lee Grafstrom Bio:
Lee provides guidance to cities and towns on all local TPT (sales tax) issues, as well as helping with budget and finance matters. He represents municipalities before the Municipal Tax Code Commission regarding changes to the Model City Tax Code (MCTC); prepares ordinances, resolutions, and council memos for tax issues; and acts as the cities’ liaison to the Arizona Department of Revenue. Lee is a member of the City Tax Administrators Council and chairs the MCTC Review Committee working to simplify and modernize the MCTC. During the legislative session, Lee protects the financial interests of cities by analyzing bills, determining impacts of proposed tax changes, helping prepare position papers for the League’s legislative team, and testifying as a technical expert at the Legislature. Lee was the Tax Audit Supervisor for the City of Chandler for 14 years before joining the League in 2014. He began his career in state and local tax in 1991 as a sales tax auditor in the Chicago office of the California Board of Equalization. Lee is an Air Force veteran with a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master of Public Administration degree from Arizona State University.
Yiannis Kalaitzidis Bio:
Yiannis Kalaitzidis has served in a variety of government roles over the last 23 years. He started his career with the Auditor General’s office and has since worked in a number of management positions with Pinal County, the City of Santa Monica, the City of Peoria and, for the last 5 years, the Town of Marana where he serves as the Finance Director.
Kalaitzidis has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona, with degrees in Finance and Accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Arizona and a past member of the Government Finance Officers Association Committee on Treasury and Investment Management.
Amy Lindsay Bio:
Amy is the Assistant Director for the Budget and Finance department for the City of Glendale. She has held various roles in municipal government in the valley since 2007, including roles in the City of Goodyear and the City of Glendale. Amy is a graduate of Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, where she graduated with a degree in Social Sciences, minoring in Business Administration.
Chris Olvey Bio:
Chris obtained his Bachelor’s in Political Science from Clemson University and his Master’s in Economics from Bowling Green State University. Chris has been at the City of Mesa’s Office of Management & Budget for over 6 years as a Budget Analyst, Budget Coordinator, and Management & Budget Deputy Director. Prior to joining the City, Chris has worked in various analyst roles, including the State’s Office of Strategic Planning & Budgeting, an IT startup, and his family’s research and development company.
Macy Walker Bio:
Macy Walker is the Budget Manager for the City of El Mirage, overseeing the capital improvement plan, budget, performance management and strategic plan. She has been with the City of El Mirage for four years. Before coming to El Mirage, Macy worked for the University of Arizona. Macy holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing and Management. In addition, she has a certificate in strategic performance management from the National Center for Public Performance and Suffolk University.
Matt Weatherly Bio:
Matt Weatherly is the President and Owner of Public Sector Personnel Consultants, a Human Resources consulting firm specializing in public sector position classification and compensation. He has had the opportunity to work with over 500 public employers throughout the United States to create lasting solutions to compensation and salary administration needs. He has enjoyed working with nearly 50 public employers in Arizona.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources Management from Arizona State University.
Matt lives in Arizona with his wife, Tara and their two children.
