Texas Association of County Auditors July On-the-Road Area Training

Dinner and Drinks at the Kerrville Hills Winery
Sponsored by IHS and Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott, LLC

Join us for a night of Italian food and great wine at Kerrville’s first winery establishment. Sitting at the highest point in Kerr County, overlooking the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Kerrville Hills Winery (KHW) was the first winery established in Kerrville. In 2019, John Rivenburgh purchased Kerrville Hills to establish a communal space for educated winemaking accelerating boutique operations. John has deep roots in the Texas Hill Country, is an award winning winemaker, and has passion for growing high quality, sustainable Texas grapes.

American Rescue Plan Act
Tramer Woytek, County Relations Officer, Texas Association of Counties (TAC)

Course Objectives:

1. To understand allowable/eligible expenses under grant and restriction on use of funds;
2. To understand grant rules, assurances and certification;
3. To understand grant reporting requirements.

Pandemic is Phasing Out, Now What?
Stacey Bruington, Wellness Consultant, TAC

From the significant impact on our mental and physical health, 2020 will go down as one of the most stressful years in recent history. However, amid every crisis lies great opportunity. In this session, we will explore how to go from merely surviving to THRIVING in this post-pandemic era.

Additionally, attendees will gain insight into the measures needed to achieve and maintain a well-balanced life, no matter what life brings our way.

Course Objectives:

1. To understand where we are in our present situation;
2. To optimize the work environment to current issues;
3. How to maximize the exercise for.

Accounting Procedures
Nicholas McGee, Manager, Harris County Auditor's Office

This session will focus on how the Harris County Auditor's Office prescribes accounting procedures and forms to be used by the numerous Harris County departments. Topics during this session will include what to have in a procedure manual, procedure structure, procedure development, procedure approval process, and county auditor forms.

Course Objectives:

1. To review the purpose of accounting policies;
2. To learn what to include in accounting policies;
3. To gain knowledge how to write accounting policies.

Legislative Updates
Tracy Barrera, Atascosa County Auditor
Melissa Jeter, Houston County Auditor
Pete Winckler, Legislative Consultant - Auditors' Association, TAC

Panelists will discuss the recently completed 87th Texas Legislature. The panel will also discuss changes to property tax law and the county budgeting process, and a selection of other new laws relevant to the auditor community.

Course Objectives:

1. Update on legislation that passed and failed regarding county auditors;
2. Update on legislation regarding tax rate and budget;
3. Update on legislation regarding other fees and finances.

Protecting Personnel In the County Offices From Threats
Daniel Cantu, Senior Deputy, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office

Presenter will provide training on the Active Shooter Awareness Program (ASAP) in a civilian workplace or business.

Course Objectives:

1. Gain an understanding of what to do if threatened;
2. Prepare ahead of time in case of attack;
3. Understand what is happening in these circumstances.

5 Tips - Things to Look For When We Start Off
Panel

Listen to our five panelists as they offer insights and share experiences on being a county auditor. Plus, they will share the top five things they wished they would have known when they first became county auditors.

Course Objectives:

1. To gain an understanding of how panelist work experiences impacted their job;
2. To gain the point of view from experienced county auditors;
3. To improve your effectiveness by not falling in the same pitfalls.

Risk-Based Internal Auditing-How to Start and What It Entails
David Jungerman, Chief Assistant County Auditor II, Travis County Auditor's Office

This session includes a detailed explanation of what risk-based internal auditing (RBIA) is, what should be considered when moving to RBIA, and how to perform this type of internal audit. The session also includes information on performing an enterprise-level risk assessment, and a discussion of the current trends in internal auditing.

Course Objectives:

1. To learn the importance of risk assessment;
2. To review possible areas to include in risk assessment;
3. To gain knowledge on how to establish risk levels.

Financial Data Security-How to Protect System
Robert Baird, President, Indigent Healthcare Solutions

Course Objectives:

1. To understand what technology is needed to protect your financial data;
2. To identify measures to take to safeguard financial data;
3. To review processes to check that your financial data is not compromised.

One Lightbulb: The Characteristics of a Helping Relationship
Mark Warren, Training Consultant, TAC

In his famed paper on relationship building, Dr. Carl Rogers, the noted humanist psychologist, offered a central framework of ten questions. He crafted them in the context of being a therapist, but they naturally apply to all kinds of relationships, including the relationship between a teacher and his/her students, boss and subordinate or amongst any group of people, including a couple, where the success of the group is more valuable to its members than any one individual simply getting their own way. Within those questions lie the essence of healthy, mature and well-adjusted successful relationship.

This presentation is designed to illuminate each of Rogers' questions with a combination of healthy adultness, appropriate interpersonal communication and relationship skills and a slice of verbal de-escalation's essence. It leaves us with this question: are we psychologically mature enough to give to others beyond our own need for satisfaction?

Course Objectives:

1. To learn how to approach officials in a manner that leads to positive outcomes;
2. To review skills to improve communication during the course of an audit;
3. To understand how to deescalate a conflict.

GASB - Update/Overview Reporting Model
Debbie Fraser, CPA, Shareholder, Armstrong, Vaughan and Associates

Presenter will provide GASB updates with a concentration on GASB 84.

Course Objectives:

1. Current changes to GASB explained;
2. Identify the changes;
3. Understand how this impact the financial statements.

Navigating Through the Budget Process
Tracy Barrera, Atascosa County Auditor

Course Objectives:

1. To review the budget process;
2. To identify the new procedures and the impact to the procedures;
3. To understand changes in approving the budget.

tnt: Truth-in-Taxation
Connie Rose, Director of Education, McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen P.C.

This presentation is a refresher of the changes created by SB 2 from the 86th legislative session and includes new laws from the 87th legislative session that affect the Truth-in-Taxation process.

Course Objectives:

1. Review of Senate Bill 2 (SB2) and changes to SB 2;
2. Review publications and web postings of SB 2;
3. Review dates and time requirement of SB 2.