Prepare your municipality for a smooth council transition with this workshop tailored to those developing council orientation programs. Gain a clear understanding of municipal financial governance and how to effectively communicate it—including legislative requirements, budget structures, and the differences between financial statements and approved budgets. This session will dive into key topics like available revenue sources, reserves, asset management integration, and the evolving impacts of strong mayor powers to help municipal staff and councillors communicate openly and work collaboratively.
Whether you're building an orientation package from scratch or refining an existing one, this workshop offers practical strategies for prioritizing financial information and timing its delivery. Participants will leave equipped with valuable tools and resources to support confident, informed decision-making at the council table.
Learning Objectives
- Identify and explain key financial concepts such as budget legislation, revenue sources, reserves, asset management integration, and financial statement differences.
- Develop a strategic approach to council orientation, including what financial information should be prioritized immediately and what information can be introduced over time.
- Identify and explain the implications of strong mayor powers on budgeting
- Access and apply practical tools and resources to create or enhance council orientation packages and budget presentations tailored to your municipality's needs.
Speaker
Gloria Raybone, Dipl.M.A.
Gloria is a seasoned municipal leader with over 19 years of experience in public sector finance and administration. She began her career in public accounting, specializing in municipal audits, before transitioning to local government in 2019 as the chief administrative officer (CAO)/treasurer for the Municipality of Tweed. During her five-year tenure at the Municipality of Tweed, she led her team through the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic, implemented critical budgetary reforms—including a significant tax levy adjustment—and fostered regional collaboration through joint service boards.
In January 2025, Gloria assumed the role of CAO for the Town of Renfrew, where she worked closely with council, staff, and the community to address evolving municipal challenges. This included managing the municipality's transition to implement strong mayor powers, among several other key legislative transitions, as part of the senior management team.
She holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University, is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), and earned her Diploma in Municipal Administration from AMCTO in 2022.