Municipal Data Management

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Municipal Data Management Technical Assistance
Bureau
(MDM/TAB)
Rick Kingsley Bureau Chief
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Training Objectives
Understand the responsibilities of the Municipal
Data Management and Technical Assistance Bureau
(MDM/TAB)
Learn about the resources available from MDM/TAB
Recognize the services provided by MDM/TAB
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Major Bureau Functions
Develops and maintains the Municipal Data Bank
Coordinates the process of preparing the annual
Cherry Sheet estimates and distributes local aid
Provides Management Consulting Reviews and
coordinates technical assistance projects for
communities
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Municipal Data Bank/ Local Aid Section
The Municipal Data Bank provides municipal
financial and demographic information

• The database includes information from the early
  1980s to the present fiscal year

The Data Bank provides standardized reports and
information on the Web and prepares specialized
data requests for state and local officials and
the private sector
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Municipal Data Bank
The Data Bank contains
Municipal Spreadsheets on assessed values and tax
rates overrides and debt and capital outlay
exclusions socioeconomic data state aid local
revenues and expenditures
The Revenue Expenditure Forecasting Tool that
enables a user to prepare a 5 year financial plan
using data stored in the municipal databank
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Local Aid
Prepares the Cherry Sheets, the annual
notification from the commissioner of revenue to
cities, towns and regional school districts of
how much they can expect in state aid and
assessments during the fiscal year
Publishes the Cherry Sheet Manual, a guide to
understanding how the programs on the Cherry
Sheet work
Cherry Sheet Manual
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Local Aid
Cherry Sheet aid totals over 5.2 billion
MDM distributes the majority of state aid funds
quarterly (including Chapter 70, Additional
Assistance, and Lottery funds)
This will amount to approximately 5.0 billion
of the annual state aid
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Local Aid
The Division calculates the annual Municipal
Revenue Growth Factor (MRGF) used to increase the
municipal contribution to support schools
DLS also oversees the states 27.1 million
reimbursement programs for local government
property tax exemptions for elderly, veterans,
blind and surviving spouses
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Review
The ? maintains a database of financial and
demographic information on Massachusetts cities
and towns.
Municipal Data Bank
The ? is an official notification from the
commissioner of revenue of certain revenues and
charges communities and regional schools can
anticipate for a particular fiscal year.
Cherry Sheet
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Technical Assistance
Offers assistance to local officials who are
dealing with constraints on municipal revenues
and/or citizens continuing demands for efficient
and effective services
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Technical Assistance
There are two types of assistance
A financial management review is a study of a
municipalitys financial operations and condition
to determine its strengths and weaknesses
Focusing on a specific problem by performing a
study (i.e., costing services, capital planning,
staff reorganization, etc.) or providing
assistance to implement specific financial
management improvements
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Technical Assistance
A project is initiated at the request of either
the Board of Selectmen or Mayor at no charge to
the community
MDM/TAB staff assemble consulting teams
well-versed in financial management
responsibilities carried out by local officials.
A project team is drawn from the Divisions five
bureaus
The process results in written management reports
that evaluate local government financial systems
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Technical Assistance
Benefits of Technical Assistance
Provides an opportunity for DLS staff to
use their collective experience dealing with all
municipalities to promote sound
financial management
Provides an independent perspective on local
government issues
Can serve as a catalyst for change in local
governments
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Review
A ? is provided to a community upon request of
the appropriate local official(s) and at no cost.
Technical Assistance Project
A ? provides a review of a communitys financial
operations, identifying its strengths and
weaknesses.
Financial Management Report
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Technical Assistance Publications
Technical Assistance Brochure
Developing a Capital Improvements Program A
Manual for Massachusetts Communities
Costing Municipal Services Workbook and Case
Study
The Corporations Book (electronic search engine
for assessors to determine the tax status of
for-profit corporations)
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