State Auditor’s Office makes changes to small city program

As many officials from small cities are aware, the small city specialist position with the State Auditor’s Office was cut to half-time in July 2010. AWC recently learned that Toni Nelson, the Small City Specialist, has resigned from the State Auditor’s Office to take a position with a private company that will provide training to new personnel and elected officials in the areas of compliance and government accounting. More information can be found in the summer Audit Connection. The State Auditor’s Office will continue to accept and answer questions through their Help Desk at www.sao.wa.gov.

Prior to Toni’s departure, AWC worked with the State Auditor’s Office with the hope of finding some way for this program to continue. We know many officials from small cities throughout the state also contacted the Auditor’s Office to emphasize the importance of this program and to express support for its continuation.

AWC will continue to explore ways these critical services can be provided to small cities. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Tanner, Leadership Programs Coordinator, at karent@awcnet.org.

Clerk/Treasurer’s Reference Tool

This document has been compiled by the Association of Washington Cities, Washington State Auditors Office and the Washington Municipal Clerk’s Association and serves as a starting point for information for new clerks and clerk/treasurers in Washington’s small cities.

Download (pdf, 455 kb)

Washington State Auditor’s Office Small Cities Assistance Program

Small City Handbook

RCW 43.09.200

The State Auditor’s Office Local Government Support Team provides training and technical assistance for cities and towns with populations of fewer than 10,000 citizens. Check the Client HelpDesk for auditing and accounting questions.

Training is provided for new personnel and officials in the areas of legal compliance and government accounting issues. These issues range from preparing an annual financial report; developing a budget; reconciling financial reports; reviewing internal control procedures; and procedures needed to assure accuracy and accountability. Training coordinated throught Washington Finance Officers Association (WFOA) at www.wfoa.org.

Contact: Christy Raske, raskec@sao.wa.gov

Small City Resource Manual

The Small City Resource Manual is a helpful guide to make your life at city hall a little easier. As a small city, you face your own unique set of challenges and the goal of this manual is to assist you as you make policy decisions, give you tips on how to work together as a council, provide fiscal management resources, and much more.

You can either download the full document (pdf, 1.4 mb) or individual chapters:

Introduction (pdf, 85.8 kb)

Chapter 1 – Overview of a City (pdf, 142.8 kb)
Chapter 2 – Leadership & Management (pdf, 198 kb)
Chapter 3 – Successful City Councils (pdf, 149 kb)
Chapter 4 – Planning Your City's Future (pdf, 176.4 kb)
Chapter 5 – Ethics, Open Government and Fairness (pdf, 194.2 kb)
Chapter 6 – Municipal Budgeting and Fiscal Management (pdf, 180.4 kb)
Chapter 7 – Human Resources and Labor Relations (pdf, 171 kb)
Chapter 8 – Keeping Your Community Safe (pdf, 164.8 kb)
Chapter 9 – Public Works that Work for Your Public (pdf, 208.8 kb)
Chapter 10 – Comprehensive Planning, Growth Management and Environmental Protection (pdf, 201.8 kb)

Index of Resources (pdf, 109 kb)
Appendix A – Agency Resources (pdf, 50.5 kb)
Appendix B – City and Town Population, County, Class and Government Type 2006 (pdf, 73.6 kb)
Appendix C – Acronyms (pdf, 58.9 kb)
Appendix D – GMA Cities (pdf, 53.4 kb)

If you would like to order an additional manual for your town or city, link to: www.awcnet.org/forms/orderpublication.asp. The online manual provides the important links for in-depth, up to date information on each topic.

We hope the Small City Resource Manual becomes a valuable tool for you at city hall. If you have questions, please contact Karen Tanner (karent@awcnet.org) at 1-800-562-8981.