Local Government Finance
This course provides a basic understanding of public and local government finance. The course discusses the changing role and size of government, the budget process, issues relating to alternative service delivery, sources of revenue for local governments, fiscal relations among governments in Canada, and strategic financial thinking.
Course at a glance
- Aimed at individuals interested in moving into higher level responsibilities in the local government field; our student body includes municipal government employees in planning, corporate services, economic development, operations, finance, and more.
- Fully online asynchronous course, accessible through eClass, the University of Alberta’s eLearning management tool.
- Participate in online discussions with peers from all over Canada and expand your professional network.
What you will learn
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Discuss the appropriate role of municipal government in the economy and in relation to other levels of government in Canada.
- Analyze the municipal budget process and the methods of forecasting revenue and expenditure budgets.
- Evaluate the various sources of municipal revenue, including the role of property taxes and user charges in financing municipal services.
- Examine the constitutional, legal, and institutional aspects of intergovernmental relations and the role of municipal government in the constitutional framework of Canada.
- Explore issues relating to municipal infrastructure and the various options of financing infrastructure.
- Identify alternative service delivery options for the provision of municipal services and issues relating to municipal fiscal sustainability.
This course has no prerequisites
Students from all educational backgrounds welcome. You can register for this course without applying and enrolling in a program.
Take note:
- All learning materials are provided through eClass.
- This is one of five core courses required for the NACLAA Level I certificate.
Currently counts towards:
-
└39-hour course option
Applicants intending to enrol in a program are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to lock in their course requirements since they are prone to change.
*If you are already enroled in this program, please refer to your specific program requirements as outlined at the time of your admission: Bear Tracks > Academic Advisement.
When will this course be offered?
New course schedules are released each June and November.