OVERVIEW

As governing becomes increasingly complex, elected officials are confronted with challenging issues relating to the financial stability, health, and welfare of their communities. Learning to govern efficiently, ethically, and wisely requires considerable time, effort, and education. This certificate program, offered by the Center for Government Services (CGS) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, provides an orientation for elected officials, including advanced training on fundamental issues and those of current interest. Enrollment is open to all elected municipal officials - both new and experienced - as well as interested citizens and potential candidates.

The Elected Officials certificate program requires the completion of an overview course, three core seminars, and two elective seminars. Officials who previously completed the CGS Powers and Duties of the Municipal Governing Body course, or seminars on the topics now offered as core classes or electives, may be "grandfathered." Call the center at 732-932-3640, ext. 644, for a transcript listing completed courses.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Overview: Powers and Duties of the Municipal Governing Body

15 hours

This basic course serves as an orientation for newly elected officials and as a refresher for experienced officials. It covers the following topics:

• Forms and structure of municipal government.
• Organization, administration, and policy-making.
• Relationship of the governing body with the public, professional staff, boards, and agencies.
• The regulatory and supervisory role of the state.
• The role of the governing body in municipal finance.
• Municipal purchasing and the local public contracts law.
• The governing body and labor issues.
• Municipal land use planning process.
• Ethical issues, and civil and criminal liability.

Core Seminar: Municipal Finance for Elected Officials

3 hours

In these times of fiscal uncertainty, it is especially important for mayors and governing body members to understand municipal finance and the role of the elected official. This seminar gives the official insight into the budget process, taxation issues, capital budgeting, bonding, and understanding the audit.

Core Seminar: Planning and Zoning for Elected Officials

3 hours

A key power of the municipality is the planning and zoning function, yet it is often the area least understood by elected officials. This seminar examines the Municipal Land Use Law, master plans and their revisions, and affordable housing issues.

Core Seminar: Ethics for Elected Officials

3 hours

The elected official's credibility often hinges on his or her understanding of what can and cannot be done in the eyes of the law. This seminar goes beyond the review of the Ethics Law and the Sunshine Law, and covers protecting oneself from ethics violations, reporting campaign contributions and expenditures, and practical examples of how to avoid even the perception of impropriety.

Elective: Municipal Government Insurance Issues

3 hours

This seminar focuses on a significant budgetary area of the municipal process that too often is not fully understood by elected and administrative officials. Municipal insurance needs - including property and casualty; workers compensation; and employee/retiree health benefits - are discussed. Insurance coverage and costs also are explored. Different delivery methods of insurance coverage, including the conventional commercial market, self-insuring, and the more recent move to pooled self-insuring or Joint Insurance Funds (JIFs) are examined. Finally, the roles of the municipal insurance broker, consultant, and risk manager are defined and evaluated.

Elective: Labor Relations for Elected Officials

3 hours

A substantial amount of the typical municipal budget is tied to labor relations, through contract negotiation, grievance and interest arbitration, and employee discipline and/or litigation before the Public Employment Relations Commission, Office of Administrative Law, or Federal Courts. In addition to these subjects, this seminar also covers interest arbitration law addressing police, fire, and civil service employee discipline, and the impact of state and federal laws on employment.

Elective: The Municipal Budget Process for Elected Officials

3 hours

This seminar provides the elected official with an overview of the budget cycle, including budget development, budget review, public hearings, state review, and final adoption of the budget. In addition, the seminar provides an explanation of the budget cap law, budget amendments, and the function of the temporary budget. Course content deals with the budget process exclusively and in more detail than the Municipal Finance for Elected Officials seminar.

Elective: Conducting Successful Public Meetings

3 hours

The elected official is frequently called upon to chair or participate in meetings that require an understanding of parliamentary procedures. This seminar helps the elected official run an effective meeting using correct procedures. Common procedural mistakes are discussed, and participants learn how to smoothly control the agenda, committee members, and the audience.

Elective: Capital Financing and Budgeting

3 hours

This program concentrates on the capital budgeting aspect of the municipal budget process. Topics of discussion include review of the local bond law, long-term versus short-term financing, arbitrage, the role of the bond counsel, the role of the local finance board, and the impact of debt issuance on current and future taxes. It also provides guidance on making applications to the Department of Community Affairs Local Finance Board

Elective: Contemporary Issues in Local Government

3 hours

The content of this course reflects important issues of the day, such as technology and technological advances of interest to government, cooperative purchasing, mergers of police and/or fire departments, development of special districts, and current legislation of interest to the municipal official. Time is allotted for discussion of specific concerns of the class.

Elective: Public Relations

3 hours

This seminar presents an introduction to the media, including an overview of the differences between print, radio, and television coverage. It provides the elected official with useful information in preparing for interviews as well as managing the media during crisis situations. The program also discusses media outreach and effective strategies for implementing promotional campaigns for the elected official, important issues, and governmental matters.

Elective: Local Property Taxation for Elected Officials

3 hours

Property tax reform comes in many shapes and sizes. Participants in this seminar learn what other states have done about reform, what is being proposed in New Jersey, and how the New Jersey Constitution mandates the way property is assessed and taxed. Issues such as tax exemptions and tax abatements are explained, and terminology such as “equalization ratio” is defined. Participants also gain an understanding of the roles of the governing body, the tax assessor, the county board of taxation, and the tax court in resolving tax disputes.

Elective: Public Purchasing for Elected Officials

3 hours

This seminar provides up-to-date information on important public procurement issues and awards. It provides a thorough overview of the governing body’s area of responsibility, and defines legality in the procurement of goods and services. Participants receive the most recent reference materials and have an opportunity to discuss current legislation as well as judicial decisions affecting public purchasing.

Elective: Shared Services: A Closer Look

3 hours

This seminar offers the municipal official an opportunity to learn more about the issues surrounding shared services agreements. Areas such a personnel testing and training, communications, purchasing, computer services, and public works are addressed.

CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION

Elected officials who complete the program requirements will receive a certificate from the Rutgers Center for Government Services. This certificate is evidence of the official's commitment to become a more effective member of the governing body through education, networking, and remaining current on municipal government issues.

The certificate will only be issued to participants who are duly elected officials, have attended 80 percent of each course or seminar, and have paid all fees. Certificate program information is distributed in each class. Interested applicants can also receive a certificate application form by calling the center at 732-932-3640, ext. 644.

Intention to complete the certificate program is not a requirement for enrollment. Everyone is welcome to choose among the programs as their needs and interests require.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

A downloadable registration form is available via the link on the left side of this web page. Payment by credit card, or check or purchase order made payable to “Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey” must accompany the application. Send all correspondence and payments to:

Elected Officials Program
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Center for Government Services
303 George Street, Suite 604
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-2020

Faxed registrations (732-932-3586) will be accepted at any time and must include information regarding payment. Telephone registrations (732-932-3640, ext. 644) are accepted only immediately prior to the start of the class, on a space available basis, and must indicate how fees will be paid.

Upon receipt of the completed application and payment, a class space will be reserved; no confirmation will be sent. The university reserves the right to cancel any course without sufficient enrollment.

Class Cancellation Policy
Rutgers Center for Government Services reserves the right to cancel any course or seminar. The Center will notify all students enrolled in a course that has been cancelled and the information will be posted on the Center website. Students will be given a choice of receiving a full refund for courses cancelled by the Center or exercising the option to enroll in the same course at a different location (if one is available) or another course that is offered during the same semester. In the event there is a difference in course fees between the course that was cancelled and the alternate course, an adjustment will be made.

If the student wishes to enroll in a course that is offered in during a future semester, the tuition payment will be held in an escrow account and the student will pay the difference in costs if the registration fee of the alternative course is more expensive. If the fees for the alternative course are less, the student will receive a refund for the difference. A student may not select an alternative course that has a prerequisite if the prerequisite has not been met.

Withdrawal/Refund Policy
Rutgers Center for Government Services will refund the full course fees minus a $25 charge for processing to students who notify the Center of their intent to withdraw from a class in writing at least two (2) business days before the class is scheduled to start. Failure to notify the Center within that time period will result in forfeiture of all fees.

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