Dollars & Decisions: Financial Leadership for Elected Officials

As an elected official, every decision you make leaves a financial footprint—and the most impactful leaders are those who understand how to align dollars with community priorities. Dollars & Decisions is a self-paced course built exclusively for mayors, councillors, and electoral area directors who want to lead with confidence, credibility, and strategic insight.

Developed in collaboration with FIT Local Government Consulting, this course demystifies local government finance in plain language—no spreadsheets required. Whether you're newly elected or seeking to deepen your understanding, you'll walk away with the tools to ask sharper questions, make stronger decisions, and build public trust through sound financial leadership.

You’ll explore:

• What every elected official needs to know about budgets, reserves, taxation, and borrowing

• How to connect financial decisions to long-term plans like your OCP and Strategic Plans

• Where your responsibilities end and staff’s begin—and how to work together effectively

• How to evaluate financial risks, read key reports, and interpret performance indicators

• When to ask the right financial questions—and what to ask—to get better outcomes for your community

You’ll gain:

• Confidence in reviewing budgets, tax policies, and infrastructure investments

• Clarity about your legislative role and how financial decisions shape your legacy

• Credibility as a leader who understands both the big picture and the fine print

This is the essential course for elected officials who want to govern with intention, champion fiscal responsibility, and leave their communities stronger than they found them.

Created in partnership with FIT Local Government Consulting