February 19, 2016

Continue your professional development through the courses offered exclusively for California counties from CSAC Institute. The classes expand your capacity to manage, lead and govern in complex and ambiguous times. From understanding pension systems and county finances to recruiting senior executives and leading organizations through crises … some great classes are ahead at the Institute next month. Read on for more!

Download the Course Schedule for more details on all the classes offered by CSAC Institute and Register Now. Classes open to all county staff and elected officials. Classes are an affordable $129 each and include class materials and lunch. Discounts for multiple registrations.

The context of county-state revenue relationships

Financing California Counties – A History of Revenue Sources

Friday, March 11, 2016 – 10:00 to 3:30 – San Diego County

Have you found yourself overwhelmed trying to understand the county revenue sources and funding stream? And how we ended up with this complex system? This course provides an in-depth examination of county revenue sources and how they have evolved. Exploring the context of county funding decisions by Legislative and the Administration over the last 40 years is critical in understanding the current state-county funding and revenue relationships. The class examines the history and consequences of major elements in county revenues including: Proposition 13, 172, 1A, Vehicle License Fees, Realignment, ERAF, property tax allocations, current year State budget and more. You’ll leave with a clearer appreciation and understanding of county revenues. Instructor is Diane Cummins, Special Advisor to the Governor on State and Local Realignment.

Deployment and leadership of high performance teams

Building and Maintaining a Team Environment

Thursday, March 17, 2016 – 10:00 to 3:30 – Contra Costa County

Counties use teams as a method to get work done. It takes a certain organizational culture to support teams. This course examines the culture and attributes of high-performing teams in the public sector. Strategies, tools and resources are shared along with team leadership practices, and how to transition to a team culture. Participants examine the group dynamics required for team success, define team responsibilities and accountability, how to evaluate team performance against mission, and the leadership practices to lead and sponsor teams. Instructor is Dr. Jerry Estenson, Professor of Organizational Behavior at CSU, Sacramento.

Don’t let crises chaos take control of your organization

Optimizing Effectiveness: Managing Crises within Organizations

Friday, March 18, 2016 – 10:00 to 3:30 – Sacramento County

Unexpected events occur frequently in organizations. Whether a change in management, change in structure, budget cut, new technology or other emergency … organizations can quickly evolve into chaos. This course offers managers the basics in identifying, preventing and controlling organizational crisis situations. It examines crisis management basics, from preparation and identifying symptoms to understanding the stages of a crisis and appropriate leadership practices to employ to optimize through the crises. The importance of communication and making effective decisions is covered, as are a variety of typical organizational scenarios and options for responses. The course concludes with guidance on damage control and stakeholder relations, restoration of confidence in an agency or management team, and strategies to prevent and to respond quickly to organizational crises. Instructor is Bill Chiat, Dean of the CSAC Institute and an expert in organizational development.

Overview for decision-makers, elected officials and managers to understand and interpret county financial reports

County Financial Reporting and Budgeting for Nonfinancial Professionals

Friday, March 18, 2016 – 10:00 to 3:30 – Merced County

This course provides the tools for decision-makers, elected officials, senior managers – other than accountants and auditors – who want to have an overview understanding of government financial reporting. Participants discuss budgets, financial statements and the audit, and at the 30,000′ level what each of those is saying (or not saying!). Participants should bring questions about terms or concepts they have encountered as part of their interaction with county and government financial reporting. The discussion reviews terms and definitions used with government financial reporting and strategies on how to read financial statements and auditor reports to identify critical information. Participants explore an approach to use with budgets to identify assumptions they include. Instructor is Laura Lindal, CPA, an experienced auditor and instructor for the California CPA Education Foundation.