50th Anniversary Celebration

IGFOA Hot Topic Sessions

March 12, 2009

NIU Naperville, 1120 East Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois

AGENDA

10:00–11:00 AM Investment security in tough economic times

 Presented by: Brian Hextell, Chief Credit Officer, PMA Financial Network, Inc.

Panelists: Richard Schnuer, City of Champaign and Mark Nannini, City of Crystal Lake

Review the optimal investment options available in this tough market, how to keep portfolios adequately diversified, and most importantly, how to ensure that the investments you are placing are safe.  Various options of securing investments will be reviewed as well as what to look to determine credit worthiness of an investment.

11:00 – 11:20 AM Mid morning networking

11:20 -12:15 AM Economic stimulus and Illinois local governments

Presented by:  Pat Curtner, Partner, Chapman and Cutler and Stephan Roberts, Director, Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc.

Discuss current economic conditions, consider the current local municipal market and gather pertinent information on the economic stimulus package under consideration by Congress and the President. This presentation will also delve into how the market and the economic stimulus package affects Illinois communities.

12:20 – 1:20 PM Lunch

1:20 – 2:20 PM Budgeting and financial planning - what’s going down?

Moderated by IGFOA Past President Stan Helgerson, Village of Carol Stream

Panelists: Chris Minick, City of St. Charles, Dan Wiersma, retired from Village of Glenview, Elliott Becker, Wheeling Park District, Andrew Huhn, Town of Normal, and Steve Noble, Village of Northfield

Exchange information and approaches with fellow budget balancers while exploring tactics the panelists are using to make ends meet.  Discuss how to keep pace with the constant stream of obstacles to structural balance.

2:20 – 2:40 PM             Mid afternoon idea exchange

2:40 – 3:30 PM             Revenue management – counting every dollar

 Join us for discussion of hot revenue topics. Does earmarking revenue help or hinder fiscal stability?  What can Illinois municipalities expect under a streamlined sales tax system?

Moderated by IGFOA Past President Gary Szott, Village of Bloomingdale

Panelists: Kevin Wolfberg, Schain, Burney, Ross & Citron, Ltd. and David Merriman, Institute of Government and Public Affairs University of Illinois-Chicago.

3:30 – 4:30 PM             Legislative update

Moderated by IGFOA Legislative Chair David Richardson, Village of Streamwood. 

Panelists: Taylor Anderson, IGFOA Legislative Consultant, Mark Baloga, Executive Director DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, and IGFOA Past President Stan Helgerson, Village of Carol Stream

Overview of current legislative session, measures that are dominating the agenda, impact of certain proposals on local governments and an update on the Streamlined Sales Tax project.

4:30 PM Reception and Anniversary Dinner begin