Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
The MMA-Suffolk Municipal Finance Management Seminar kicks off its newest session with 26 students on Oct. 18.
The MMA and Suffolk University will offer three Municipal Finance Management Seminar programs in 2025.
The seminar is designed to provide an overview of municipal finance in Massachusetts, including the structure and purpose of local government, municipal budgeting systems and sources of revenue, financial reporting and record keeping, financial management, principles of property assessment, the intersection of human resources and financial resources, and best practices in local government finance.
The seminar is for municipal officials interested in furthering their careers in municipal finance or employees who are new to municipal finance. Participants must be currently employed by a city or town, and must have the approval of their municipal manager, administrator or mayor to apply.
Seminars will be held via Zoom over the course of five Fridays, with start dates as follows:
• Winter 2025: Jan. 3
• Spring 2025: March 7
• Fall 2025: Expected mid-October
“We’ve seen great success with the program and are addressing a longstanding need,” said John Petrin, a retired town manager and senior fellow and liaison for the MMA-Suffolk programs. “We’re filling an important gap in preparing the next generation of municipal finance professionals.”
Bernie Lynch, a senior instructor in the program, said it’s a great example of the MMA and Suffolk’s partnership on efforts to address timely issues affecting Massachusetts cities and towns.
“One of the most significant issues facing communities is the loss of so many municipal finance officials through retirements, and the gap in finding new people to step into these crucial positions that manage and control municipal resources,” he said. “The municipal finance seminar has far exceeded expectations in its popularity and in helping to build up the bench of long-term municipal employees and introducing new employees transitioning from the private sector to understand the big picture of municipal finance.”
Students are expected to attend all course sessions, participate in class activities, and complete all course assignments. Each session can accommodate up to 25 students, and the cost is $925.
Registration is first-come, first-served. Applicants will be vetted to ensure that they’re a municipal employee and that there are no more than three participants per municipality.
Registration details for the winter session were emailed to chief municipal officials in mid-October. Questions about the registration process can be directed to Kate Evarts at kevarts@mma.org or 617-426-7272, ext. 172.
Human Resources Seminar
Twenty-six students graduate from the MMA-Suffolk Municipal Human Resources Seminar on Oct. 18.
The second session of the MMA and Suffolk University’s Municipal Human Resources Seminar wrapped up in October, with 27 students completing the fall seminar.
The HR seminar covers human resources management, policies and practices specific to Massachusetts cities and towns. There has been overwhelming interest in the seminar since it began in April.
Topics include hiring and onboarding, benefits administration, policy development, collective bargaining, and employee reviews and evaluations. Students also review relevant labor laws and best practices in municipal human resources management.
Planning is underway for future Municipal Human Resources seminars, and waitlisted applicants will receive emails when sessions are confirmed.
More information
The MMA has partnered with Suffolk University since 2011 to offer programs designed exclusively for municipal employees to help them further their professional careers.
For more information on any of the MMA-Suffolk programs, visit mma.org/suffolk or contact Katie McCue at 617-426-7272, ext. 111, or kmccue@mma.org, or Kate Evarts at 617-426-7272, ext. 172, or kevarts@mma.org.