MSU Extension Fiscal Management

Michigan’s local governments face increasing financial pressures, including budget constraints, revenue limitations, and the need for long-term fiscal planning. Without strong financial policies and practices, municipalities may struggle to fund essential services, infrastructure projects, and economic development initiatives. 

Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Treasury, developed the Fiscally Ready Communities (FRC) program to help local officials, administrators, and staff improve financial sustainability, operational effectiveness, and long-term planning.

In 2024, the FRC program delivered eight webinars, reaching 1,163 participants across Michigan. Participants included:

• 29% elected officials
• 30% local government administrators and managers
• 24% local government staff
• 13% appointed officials
• 4% other relevant roles (students, state employees, consultants, etc.)

The program covered key financial management topics, such as:

• Budgeting for Fiscal Sustainability: Best practices for financial health, long-term planning, and budgeting policies.
• Capital Asset Management and Planning: Basics of establishing a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) along with proactive capital asset management and planning.
• Internal Controls: Developing policies to ensure accountability and strengthen financial oversight.
• Fees, Fines, Purchasing, and Receipting: Establishing clear, fair policies to improve fiscal sustainability and suggestions for implementation.
• From Fundamentals to Best Practices: Assessing fiscal health, interpreting financial statements, implementing financial best practices, and more.

Of the participants that completed post-program evaluations, respondents conveyed significant learning gains and recognized opportunities for practical applications of this knowledge in their own community. Some highlights of post-program evaluations included:

• 87% of respondents reported increased knowledge of operational and financial best practices.
• 82% felt more confident in assessing their community’s long-term fiscal health.
• 81% enhanced their skills to be more effective in their roles.

As a result of participating in the Fiscally Ready Communities program, respondents of the post-program evaluation also identified the following actions they intend to take to improve their local units’ fiscal health:

• 31% of respondents plan to review existing financial policies.
• 29% will adopt new processes for long-term fiscal planning.
• 22% aim to engage additional stakeholders in the budget process.

By equipping Michigan’s local government officials, administrators, and staff with essential financial management skills, the Fiscally Ready Communities program strengthens communities’ ability to plan for the future, improve their budget practices, and sustain financial health. These efforts help municipalities allocate resources effectively, maintain transparency, and foster economic stability.

Participant testimonials

• “Even though I am exposed to this information on a regular basis, I look to utilize webinars such as these to improve my knowledge and understanding on these topics to assist in a better-functioning organization.”
• “The program helped me feel more confident in my knowledge, and hopefully I will be able to project that to my team.”