2023-2024 Foundations in County Government Program Schedule (Sept. 2023 Update)

2023-2024 KAC Foundations in County Government Program

Foundations in County Government is KAC’s foundational leadership program that is available for all county employees, elected as well as appointed, at all levels within any department.

The program’s focus is to introduce you to key topics that will enhance your performance in working with the public through better understanding of effective communication, working as a team member, and enhancing personal development. Importantly, the leadership program is designed to be flexible and provide you with timely presentations and workshops that address current issues and concerns. Foundations in County Government overarching objective is to give you more tools to help you mobilize others to make progress on the challenges you face in your role in local government.

Ready to Begin? First Step: Program Enrollment

If you are ready to begin and would like to enroll in the Foundations in County Government certificate program, please email Kimberly Qualls, KAC Education and Communications Director at: qualls@kansascounties.org for more information.

Foundations in County Government certificate of accomplishment requires completion of three (3) core classes and four (4) elective classes.

Next Step: Class Enrollment

Below you will find the current courses scheduled for the 2023-2024 Foundations in County Government Program. Please note: There must be at least ten (10) individuals signed up ten (10) days prior to the scheduled session to hold a workshop. If there is not sufficient enrollment, the session will be cancelled, and you will be notified via email. All full day workshops include morning coffee service and lunch. Course fees range from $65 - $100 depending upon instructor, location, meal, materials, and other costs incurred by KAC.

Overview of Human Resource Management                Register Here

Human resource management covers more ground than people might initially imagine. Some may define it as interactions between employer and employee in the period between which an employee is hired until they are terminated. While this is true, human resources management begins even before this, with the policies that are created by the institution and the laws that govern workplace relations.

Human Resource Management is the process of working with people so that they and their organizations reach full potential even when change precipitates the need to acquire new skills, assume new responsibilities and form new relationships. This course is designed to give you an overview of the key elements of human resource management.

Instructor: Crystal Malchose is the Human Resource Director/Special Projects for Geary County. She has over two decades of Human Resources experience in the public sector (city and county level). Crystal received her B.S. Degree in Human Resource Management from Kansas State University in 2007; CPM (Certified Public Manager) Certification from the University of Kansas in 2013; and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Kansas in 2017. She serves on various boards and committees to support other public sector organizations and promote positive service.

Budgeting & Finance                Register Here

Budgeting and Finance is a required role of the county commission as well as other elected officials and staff. The number and scope of county services have expanded in response to intergovernmental mandates and long devolution trends. The dizzying pace of technology innovations promises long-term efficiencies for county operations, but in the short run, requires a significant financial investment. This course defines the role of the county commission as financial policy makers and related roles of citizens, other elected officials, and staff. In addition, this class will address current tips on how to manage the Revenue Neutral Rate (i.e., Truth in Taxation) in your county.

This course will provide in-depth information on how to:

• Establish the legal parameters for the county budget and identify the functions of a capital and annual operating budget;
• Propose processes for preparing, adopting, and managing the budget;
• Explain how county government is financed and suggest techniques for estimating county revenues;
• Identify leadership strategies that contribute to wise, effective, and responsible financial decisions;
• Identify how to challenge county department heads and staff, and outside agencies to the county to use the budget process to think more strategically, more seriously, and more collaboratively about how goals can be accomplished in more creative and cost-effective ways;
• Consider the adequacy of cash balances or reserves, i.e. how much is enough, not enough, or too much, and how cash balances can be managed;
• Evaluate revenue sources other than the property tax to finance county programs and services;
• Consider how the county’s fund structure enables or detracts from the ability of the board of county commissioners to effectively manage the county budget; and
• Learn ways to effectively communicate county budget information to citizens, groups, and the news media.

Instructor: Ryan Adkison is the Assistant County Administrator/Finance Director for Butler County. One of his primary duties is crafting the organization’s annual CIP/operating budget, which has won the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award the past seven years.

Effective Management of Intergovernmental Relations               Register Here

The governments of the U.S. are part of a federal system, purposively designed by our Founding Fathers. The result of this unique system of government is an ever-changing set of relationships between the federal government, state governments, and local governments. This workshop will focus on the intergovernmental relations found among them and the myriad issues that accompany the day-to-day operations that affect the overall efficiency of our system. The workshop will be highly interactive and includes a tour of the statehouse.

This course will provide in-depth information on:

• the Federal system
• Kansas government
• the legislative processes
• relevant Federal and State agencies
• how to understand a statute and bill
• how to work with Kansas state bureaucracy
• working with townships
• partnership opportunities with other local governments

Instructor: Jay Hall is the Deputy Director and General Counsel for the Kansas Association of Counties (KAC). In his dual role as Legislative Policy Director and General Counsel, Hall implements the legislative policy for the Association and its member counties through lobbying efforts, as well as offering legal counsel to the Association, its Executive Board and employees, and its member counties. Prior to joining KAC, Hall was the Chief Legal Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for a bank. In this role, Hall oversaw the compliance and legal departments, and was in charge of international and domestic contract negotiations and all other bank legal matters. As compliance officer, Hall oversaw regulatory compliance, and audit and examination preparation. Hall started his career as the Review Board Liaison and staff attorney for a state agency, where he advised and staffed the board that selected the management companies for the state owned and operated lottery gaming facilities. Hall has also worked as a Research Analyst for the Kansas Legislative Research Department, focusing on Health, Children and Families, Elections, and Local Government. Hall is also an adjunct faculty at Washburn University School of Law, where he coaches trial advocacy and voir dire competition teams, as well as assists with teaching advocacy courses.

County Government’s Guide to Understanding the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA)                                         REGISTER HERE

This webinar will cover the basics of the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA), as well as provide practical tips and best practices for your role in local county government.

Instructor: Jay Hall is the Deputy Director and General Counsel for the Kansas Association of Counties (KAC). In his dual role as Legislative Policy Director and General Counsel, Hall implements the legislative policy for the Association and its member counties through lobbying efforts, as well as offering legal counsel to the Association, its Executive Board and employees, and its member counties. Prior to joining KAC, Hall was the Chief Legal Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for a bank. In this role, Hall oversaw the compliance and legal departments, and was in charge of international and domestic contract negotiations and all other bank legal matters. As compliance officer, Hall oversaw regulatory compliance, and audit and examination preparation. Hall started his career as the Review Board Liaison and staff attorney for a state agency, where he advised and staffed the board that selected the management companies for the state owned and operated lottery gaming facilities. Hall has also worked as a Research Analyst for the Kansas Legislative Research Department, focusing on Health, Children and Families, Elections, and Local Government. Hall is also an adjunct faculty at Washburn University School of Law, where he coaches trial advocacy and voir dire competition teams, as well as assists with teaching advocacy courses.

County Government’s Guide to Understanding the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA)      REGISTER HERE

This webinar will cover the basics of the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), as well as provide practical tips and best practices for your role in local county government.

Instructor: Jay Hall is the Deputy Director and General Counsel for the Kansas Association of Counties (KAC). In his dual role as Legislative Policy Director and General Counsel, Hall implements the legislative policy for the Association and its member counties through lobbying efforts, as well as offering legal counsel to the Association, its Executive Board and employees, and its member counties. Prior to joining KAC, Hall was the Chief Legal Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for a bank. In this role, Hall oversaw the compliance and legal departments, and was in charge of international and domestic contract negotiations and all other bank legal matters. As compliance officer, Hall oversaw regulatory compliance, and audit and examination preparation. Hall started his career as the Review Board Liaison and staff attorney for a state agency, where he advised and staffed the board that selected the management companies for the state owned and operated lottery gaming facilities. Hall has also worked as a Research Analyst for the Kansas Legislative Research Department, focusing on Health, Children and Families, Elections, and Local Government. Hall is also an adjunct faculty at Washburn University School of Law, where he coaches trial advocacy and voir dire competition teams, as well as assists with teaching advocacy courses.