National Strategy Council

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

Luis Pedroza

CFO/City Treasurer

Douglas, AZ

Joy Black

Joy Black

Finance Director

City of Bryant, AR

Wes Smith

Wes Smith

CFO

Mesquite, NV

Anthony Moggio

Anthony Moggio

Finance Director

City of Rochester, MI

Bret Prebula

Bret Prebula

Deputy City Manager / CFO

City of Benicia, CA

Strategic Thinking in Finance

01

Long Term Strategic Planning

Develop comprehensive long-term financial strategies aligned with organizational goals, ensuring sustainable growth and stability.

02

Metrics-Guided Execution

Implement key performance indicators and financial metrics to guide decision-making and track progress towards strategic objectives.

03

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

Cesar Garcia

City Manager

La Marque, TX

Molly McGovern

Molly McGovern

City Manager

Excelsior Springs, MO

Bret Prebula

Bret Prebula

City Manager

Suisun City, CA

Scott Getchell

Scott Getchell

City Manager

Denton, MD

Ryan Snow

Ryan Snow

City Manager

Providence, UT

Executive Leadership Strategies

01

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.

02

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.

03

Team and Execution

Strong execution relies on breaking down departmental silos, fostering inclusivity and innovation, and maintaining transparency through regular updates and aligned strategies.

04

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

JP Joly

NSC Convenor

Founder/CEO, Muniworth

Charlie Francis

Charlie Francis

NSC Facilitator

Founder/CEO TheVirtualGovCFO LLC

FAQs