Elected Official Certificate Program Application

As governing becomes increasingly complex, elected officials are confronted with challenging issues relating to the financial stability, health, and welfare of their communities. Learning to govern efficiently, ethically, and wisely requires considerable time, effort, and education on the part of the elected official.

Elected officials now have an opportunity to participate in a special certificate program that offers an orientation for elected officials. The program provides advanced training on fundamental issues and those of current interest. Enrollment is open to all elected municipal officials; those newly elected as well as those with experience.

Elected officials who complete the program requirements will receive a certificate from Rutgers University's Center for Government Services. This certificate is evidence of the official's commitment to become a more effective member of the governing body through education, networking, and remaining current on municipal government issues.

Interested citizens and potential candidates are also welcome to register for the courses. However, the certificate will only be issued to those who are duly elected, have attended 80 percent of each course or seminar, and have paid all fees. Intention to complete the certificate program is not a requirement for enrollment. Everyone is welcome to choose among the programs as their needs and interests require.

Certificate program information is distributed in each class. Interested applicants can also receive a certificate application form by calling the Center at 732/932-3640 ext. 644.

The Certificate Program requires completion of the following:

Overview Course (required) - 15 hours

- Powers and Duties of the Municipal Governing Body

Core Seminars (3 required) - 3 hours each

- Municipal Finance for Elected Officials
- Planning and Zoning for Elected Officials
- Ethics for Elected Officials

Elective Seminars (2 required) - 3 hours each

- Capital Budgeting and Financing
- Contemporary Issues
- Conducting Successful Public Meetings
- Labor Relations for Elected Officials
- Local Property Taxation for Elected Officials
- The Municipal Budget Process for Elected Officials
- Municipal Government Insurance Issues
- Public Purchasing for Elected Officials
- Public Relations for Elected Officials
- Shared Services: A Closer Look

Officials who have previously completed the Powers and Duties of the Municipal Governing Body or seminars given by the Center on any of the topics listed above may be "grandfathered" into the program. Call the Center at 732/932-3640 ext. 644 for a transcript listing completed courses.

OVERVIEW COURSE - 15 hours

Powers and Duties of the Municipal Governing Body

This basic course serves as an orientation for newly elected officials and as a refresher for experienced officials. It covers the following topics:

• Forms and Structure of Municipal Government
• Organization, Administration and Policy-Making
• Relationship of the Governing Body with the
• Public, Professional Staff, Boards and Agencies
• The Regulatory and Supervisory Role of the State
• The Role of the Governing Body in Municipal Finance
• Municipal Purchasing and the Local Public Contracts Law
• The Governing Body and Labor Issues
• Municipal Land Use Planning Process
• Ethical Issues and Civil and Criminal Liability

CORE SEMINARS - 3 hours

Municipal Finance for Elected Officials
In these times of fiscal uncertainty, it is especially important for mayors and governing body members to understand municipal finance and the role of the elected official. This seminar gives the official insight into the budget process, taxation issues, capital budgeting, bonding, and understanding the audit.

Planning and Zoning for Elected Officials
A key power of the municipality is the planning and zoning function, yet it is often the area least understood by elected officials. This seminar examines the Municipal Land Use Law, Master Plans and their revisions, and affordable housing issues.

Ethics for Elected Officials
The elected official's credibility often hinges on the official's understanding of what can and can't be done in the eyes of the law. This seminar goes beyond the review of the Ethics Law and the Sunshine Law and covers protecting yourself from ethics violations, reporting campaign contributions and expenditures, and also includes practical examples of how to avoid even the perception of impropriety.

ELECTIVE SEMINARS - 3 hours

Municipal Government Insurance Issues
This seminar focuses on a significant budgetary area of the municipal process too often not fully understood by elected and administrative officials. Municipal insurance needs, including property and casualty, workers compensation and employee/retiree health benefits, will be discussed. Insurance coverage and costs will also be explored. Different delivery methods of insurance coverage including the conventional commercial market, self-insuring, and the more recent move to pooled self-insuring or Joint Insurance Funds (JIFs) are examined. Finally, the roles of the municipal insurance broker, consultant and risk manager is defined and evaluated.

Labor Relations for Elected Officials
A substantial amount of the municipal budget is tied to labor relations. This occurs through contract negotiation, grievance and interest arbitration, employee discipline and/or litigation before the Public Employment Relations Commission, Office of Administrative Law, or Federal Courts. In addition to these subjects, the seminar also covers interest arbitration law addressing police, fire, and civil service employee discipline, and the impact of state and federal laws on employment.

The Municipal Budget Process for Elected Officials
This seminar provides the elected official with an overview of the budget cycle, including the development of the budget, the budget review, public hearings, state review, and final adoption of the budget. In addition, the seminar provides an explanation of the budget cap law, budget amendments, and the function of the temporary budget. This seminar deals with the budget process exclusively and in more detail than the Financial Management for Elected Officials seminar.

Conducting Successful Public Meetings
The elected official is frequently called upon to chair or participate in meetings that require an understanding of parliamentary procedures. This seminar helps the elected official run an effective meeting using correct procedures. Common procedural mistakes are discussed and participants learn how to smoothly control both the agenda, committee members, and the audience.

Capital Financing and Budgeting
This program will concentrate on the capital budgeting aspect of the municipal budget process. Topics of discussion will include review of the local bond law, long term versus short term financing, arbitrage, the role of the bond counsel, the role of the local finance board and the impact of debt issuance on current and future taxes. It will also provide guidance on making applications to the Department of Community Affairs Local Finance Board

Contemporary Issues in Local Government
The course content reflects the important issues of the day such as technology and technological advances of interest to government, cooperative purchasing, mergers of police and/or fire departments, development of special districts and current legislation of interest to the municipal official. Time is allotted for discussion of specific concerns of the class.

Public Relations
This seminar presents an introduction to the media, providing an understanding of the differences between print, radio and television coverage. It provides the elected official with useful information in preparing for interviews as well as managing the media during crisis situations. The program will also discuss media outreach and effective strategies for implementing promotional campaigns for the elected official, important issues and governmental matters.

Local Property Taxation for Elected Officials
Property tax reform comes in many shapes and sizes. Participants in this seminar learn what other states have done about reform, what is being proposed in New Jersey, and how the New Jersey Constitution mandates the way property is assessed and taxed. Issues such as tax exemptions and tax abatements are explained, and terminology such as “equalization ratio is defined. Participants also gain an understanding of the roles of the governing body, the tax assessor, the county board of taxation and the tax court in resolving tax disputes.

Public Purchasing for Elected Officials
This seminar provides up-to-date information on important public procurement issues and awards. It provides a thorough overview of the governing body’s area of responsibility and defines legality in the procurement of goods and services. Participants receive the most recent reference materials and have an opportunity to discuss current legislation as well as judicial decisions affecting public purchasing.

Shared Services: A Closer Look
This seminar provides the municipal official an opportunity to learn more about the issues surrounding shared services agreements. Areas such a personnel testing and training, communications, purchasing, computer services and public works are addressed.

Registration
Complete and mail the registration form prior to the course or seminar start date. Telephone registrations (732/932-3640 ext. 644) are accepted only immediately prior to the start of the class, only on a space available basis, and must indicate how fees will be paid. Faxed registrations (732/932-3586) will be accepted at any time and must include information regarding payment. No course confirmations will be sent. The University reserves the right to cancel any course if there is insufficient enrollment.

CGS will refund the full course fee less a $25 processing charge to any student who notifies CGS in writing of his/her intent to withdraw. Notices of withdrawal must be submitted at least 48 hours before the course is scheduled to start. Withdrawal notices sent by fax (732/932-3586) will be accepted as well as notices sent by mail. Send withdrawal notice to: Center for Government Services, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 33 Livingston Avenue, Suite 200, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1979.

Since you may be eligible for a tax deduction under the new Lifetime Learning Tax Act, Rutgers records the name, address, and social security number of all Continuing Education participants.

The Center for Government Services serves governments and communities through research, continuing education and technical assistance. The Center organizes and presents numerous courses specifically designed to assist the municipal employee in obtaining professional certification as a finance officer, municipal clerk, tax collector or tax assessor among others. The Center also publishes research results, course materials and policy reports of interest to government and the public. For more information, or to inquire about other services offered by the Center, call 732/932-3640.