What hasn’t occurred in the last 30 days? Our lives have been turned inside out and upside down, shaken to the core (literally for those of us experiencing multiple earthquakes in So. Cal.), and we will continue to be tested each day until together we overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. CSMFO is driven by volunteers who are under immense pressure.

CSMFO recognizes everyone is juggling accommodating shelter in place orders while providing essential city services, projecting revenue losses, tracking unanticipated expenses for possible FEMA reimbursement, supporting local economies, educating the public, and administering public meetings among multiple other tasks. Because of these challenging times, CSMFO news has postponed most articles for publication until May 2020. This will allow our volunteers to focus on their communities, families, and personal well-being. We appreciate your understanding and leave you with a few valuable resources during this month of April.

Remote Training

Webinars are the new hot training tool. There is an increased volume of webinars available, many of them free, from vendors who support government agencies. We want to thank vendors, chambers of commerce, and other government agencies for their expertise, guidance, and commitment in providing ongoing updates. Check your email spam folder – you may find some hidden training gems.

Consultants Await Assignments

If you are short staffed because of COVID-19 impacts consultants may be a great source, require little to no training, and are subject matter experts. These same consultants may also be able to provide new services that you may not have been aware of. A little contract tweak and presto you may be out of a bind.

Local Businesses

Local businesses needed us now more than ever. They are hurting and looking for resources to keep their businesses afloat. These businesses hire locally, empower innovation, provide entertainment, food choices, and so much more. Reach out, listen, learn from them, and see how you can provide support. City websites and social media platforms are a great way to promote open businesses for no additional cost. Some agencies are providing no cost grants or low interest rate loans to incentivize pick up orders or assist with fixed business costs.

Who’s my Finance Neighbor?

With consultant expertise and observations of local surroundings, we can development better-quality analysis, reports, and provide solutions during these unprecedented times. Agencies should communication with other surrounding agencies to gather information and discuss impacts. Together we can and will overcome this pandemic. We will be stronger as a result and possibly have newly formed long lasting relationships among our government finance family.

We encourage you to continue to use the CSMFO list serve as a reference tool. In addition, the League of California Cities has a dedicated COVID-19 web page and Michael Coleman will continue to provide online guidance through California Local Government Finance Almanac website.

Remember Your Agency Families

It’s also vital to appreciate staff, empower remote safe work environments, continue to share accomplishments even small ones are BIG during times of trouble. Check in often, ask about family members, extend words of encouragement, continue to be honest and supportive of one another.

Life will resume, likely to a new normal, with some middle ground until a permanent COVID-19 treatment is found. We will not only survive; we will thrive and learn from these hopefully once in a lifetime experience. Document these experiences, they shall be useful for future generations of government finance leaders. I foresee a few unique COVID-19 lessons learned sessions at the 2021 CSMFO conference.