To effectively govern their city or town, municipal elected officials must understand and navigate through a sometimes complex maze of laws and regulations. For many, especially newly elected officials, the inner workings of municipal government often may seem like a strange new world.
Newberry Mayor Foster Senn signed up for the Municipal Elected Officials Institute right after he was elected to council in 2006. Senn says all of the training works toward good, effective, open government.
"Through this training right after I was elected, I learned not only what to do, but also what not to do, missteps that I needed to avoid," Senn said. "Government and proper government procedures are complicated – more complicated than I expected."
The Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government offers specialized training for elected officials to increase their basic understanding of key areas of municipal policy, administration and operations.
Test your municipal knowledge about three topics covered in the Institute. Could you benefit from attending Institute courses? Answers appear at the end of this article.
Without approval by referendum, municipal general obligation debt is capped at what percentage of the assessed value of taxable property in the municipality?
a.) 20 percent
b.) 8 percent
c.) 10 percentCouncil may only amend an ordinance through the following action(s):
a.) a motion and majority vote of council
b.) a resolution of council
c.) an ordinance approved by majority vote of council at least two separate council meetings held at least six days between each readingUsing the 75 percent petition method, a municipality may annex property if 75 percent of the property owners owning 75 percent of the assessed value in the area to be annexed sign an annexation petition and council …
a.) prepares an annexation feasibility study, conducts a public hearing and adopts an ordinance to annex the area
b.) adopts an ordinance to annex the area
c.) conducts a public hearing and adopts an ordinance to annex the area
The Institute offers both in-person and online courses. To become an Institute graduate, officials must complete seven required courses. Sessions A and B are full-day sessions held each February prior to the Association’s Hometown Legislative Action Day. Officials must take Session A before Session B. Registration is open until January 18 for the 2016 Session A and Session B on February 2.
The five other required courses are offered in March, April and September each year at the regional councils of governments’ locations. Officials may also take these required courses online at any time.
Learn more about the Municipal Elected Officials Institute or register for the February 2 courses.
Graduates have an additional opportunity to continue their training through the Advanced Municipal Elected Officials Institute. The Association offers advanced courses in February (the day prior to the Hometown Legislative Action Day) and in October.
Learn more about the Advanced Institute or register for the February 2 course.
Answers: 1) b: 8 percent; 2) c: ordinance 3) a: study, public hearing and ordinance