Thought Leadership
By and for Leaders in Municipal Government
The Three Grand Challenges
Factors precipitating the infrastructure crisis manifest as three distinct challenges every community must contend with:
1. FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
Pertains to the local government’s ability to manage financial resources to ensure long-term viability, stability, and resilience.
2. AFFORDABILITY
Refers to the ability of citizens to comfortably manage the costs of the services without undue financial burden or hardship.
3. INTERGENERATIONAL EQUITY
Addresses the principle of fairness that considers the rights, needs, and interests of both present and future generations.
The Story of Nearly Every Community in America
Municipal utilities across America face challenges like never before. Our infrastructure deficit has climbed north of US$1.5 Trillion. Galloping inflation and high interest rates are stressing even the most solid of community budgets, and elected officials are being tested like never before. Meanwhile, securing the fate of the community's future demands attending to and planning for crumbling aging infrastructure and compliance with essential safety regulations.
Aging Infrastructure
Budget Stress
Inflation & Interest Rates
Elected Officials
Safety Regulations
Time Pressure
Water Utilities
Electric Utilities
Repair & Maintenance
Compliance
Community Impact
Labour Market
Who We Are
We are a group of passionate volunteer industry insiders collaborating to efficiently surface the very best ideas that can be taken back and actioned by us and our peers in the service of communities across America.
Council of Finance Directors
Our esteemed Council of Finance Directors brings together top financial leaders from various municipalities to share insights and best practices.
Luis Pedroza
CFO/City Treasurer
Douglas, AZ
Joy Black
Finance Director
City of Bryant, AR
Wes Smith
CFO
Mesquite, NV
Anthony Moggio
Finance Director
City of Rochester, MI
Bret Prebula
Deputy City Manager / CFO
City of Benicia, CA
Strategic Thinking in Finance
Long Term Strategic Planning
Develop comprehensive long-term financial strategies aligned with organizational goals, ensuring sustainable growth and stability.
Metrics-Guided Execution
Implement key performance indicators and financial metrics to guide decision-making and track progress towards strategic objectives.
Continuous Revenue Management
Establish ongoing processes for revenue optimization, including regular review of pricing strategies, cost structures, and market opportunities.
Council of City Managers
Our distinguished Council of City Managers comprises experienced leaders who drive innovation and excellence in municipal governance.
Cesar Garcia
City Manager
La Marque, TX
Molly McGovern
City Manager
Excelsior Springs, MO
Bret Prebula
City Manager
Suisun City, CA
Scott Getchell
City Manager
Denton, MD
Ryan Snow
City Manager
Providence, UT
Executive Leadership Strategies
Engaging with the Public
Effective public engagement involves meeting the community in familiar settings, providing clear financial transparency, and building trust through consistent values and responsive communication.
Managing Political Expectations
Clear roles and ethical standards, continuous strategic planning, and regular communication with elected officials are essential for managing political expectations and fostering collaboration.
Team and Execution
Strong execution relies on breaking down departmental silos, fostering inclusivity and innovation, and maintaining transparency through regular updates and aligned strategies.
Continuous Rate Management
In many cases, utility rates are only periodically and often infrequently reviewed. When it's time to review rates, the process proceeds with an intensive RFP process for a rate study with a report as a deliverable. Reports are static.
Nominate Council Members
We believe in the power of collective decision-making. Nominate a council member and submit strategy topics to help us keep up with the constantly changing America.
Submit Your Strategy Topic
Send us your best suggestions for serious strategic challenges you face as an executive in a municipal utility.
This is very much a community effort, so we will take your inputs very seriously. We will make sure to notify you when your issue has been deliberated upon or when a Council has developed an actionable strategy that addresses the issue you raised.
Our Guiding Principles
Our guiding principles are driven by the need to be practical and actionable:
VALUABLE
Our guiding principles are driven by the need to be practical and actionable:
EASY
What strategies can we adopt that are easy to understand and execute on?
FAST
What strategies can we adopt quickly and efficiently to move the needle for us fast?
Founding Convenor and Facilitator
JP Joly
NSC Convenor
Founder/CEO, Muniworth
Charlie Francis
NSC Facilitator
Founder/CEO TheVirtualGovCFO LLC