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.

Meet the Strategy Councils

Council of Finance Directors

WES SMITH

Member, NSC of Finance Leaders (Finance Director, Virgin Valley Water District (VVH20), NV)

JOY BLACK

Member, NSC of Finance Leaders(Finance Director, City of Bryant, AR)

LUIS PEDROZA

Member, NSC of Finance Leaders (Asst. City Manager/CFO/City Treasurer, Douglas, AZ)

ANTHONY MOGGIO

Member, NSC of Finance Leaders (Finance Director, City of Rochester, MI)

BRET PREBULA

Member, NSC of Finance Leaders (Deputy City Manager/CFO, City of Benicia, CA)

Strategic Thinking in Finance

Long Term Strategic Planning
Metrics-Guided Execution
Continuous Revenue Management

Download CFO Playbook

Upcoming councils we are organizing: Council of Public Works and Utilities Directors, Council of City Managers, Council of Elected Officials. Please submit your proposed topics and council members with these councils in mind so we can build cohesive teams across the nation to support each other delivering the best possible government services to citizens of their respective communities.

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