The Pennsylvania Municipal League

Public Procurement & Bidding Essentials for Municipal Officials
2026-04-21 00:00 - 2026-04-22 23:59 (America/New_York) | PA
TRACK: ADMINISTRATIVELength: 6 hoursPrice: Member Registration: $139 per registrant | Non Member Registration: $199 per registrantSend a message to lla@pml.org for group rates of 10 or more registrantsDate: April 21 & 22, 2026Time: 9 a.m. to Noon both days

REGISTER NOW

Participants must attend both 3-hour sessions to earn a course certificate.

PLEASE NOTE: This course is interactive to give you the best learning experience possible. It will be conducted via Zoom. You will need to be able to: Raise your hand, mute/unmute, and use chat.

Course Description

This course provides a practical and comprehensive introduction to public procurement and bidding processes within local government operations. Designed for municipal staff and procurement professionals, it covers the principles, procedures, and legal foundations essential to conducting fair, efficient, and compliant procurement activities.

Participants will explore key topics such as drafting bid specifications, conducting competitive solicitations, evaluating bids, and awarding contracts. Emphasis is placed on transparency, ethics, and regulatory compliance, with insights into navigating common challenges and applying best practices in public purchasing.

Case studies and real-world examples will be used to illustrate common challenges and strategies for ensuring compliance and transparency.

Key Topics:

Key Statutes and Regulations

Procurement Cycle

Competitive bidding requirements

Bid specifications

Bid evaluation and contract awards

Ethical considerations in municipal purchasing

Who should attend:

Municipal Secretaries

Treasurers

Clerks

Administrators

Auditors

Elected officials and Newly elected officials

At the end of the course, you can expect to be able to:

List the key statues and regulations for municipal bidding and purchasing

Describe the steps in the procurement cycle

Draft clear and effective bid specifications

Evaluate vendor submissions using objective criteria

Execute contract awards in accordance with local laws and guidelines

Promote integrity and transparency throughout the procurement process

By registering for this course, you are authorizing the League Learning Academy to forward information to you at your email address related to educational offerings.

Once your registration is completed, you should receive a confirmation email from The PA Municipal League. Please review when received. If you do not receive an email, it may be in your spam folder.

CANCELLATION & NO-SHOW POLICY:Cancellation must be received in writing to lla@pml.org within 72 hours prior to a class to be considered for a full refund.

If cancellation is received after the 72-hour window, a processing fee will be applied for a portion of the refund.

Those who do not cancel or attend forfeit the full registration fee.

Northwest District Meeting
2026-04-28 11:30 - 13:30 | City of Warren | Conewango Club, 201 Market St, Warren, Pennsylvania, 16365, United States
Please join us for your District Meeting! Connect with our team, mingle with fellow members, and enjoy great food. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet, network, and feel appreciated!

To check what district your municipality is in click here! We hope to see you at one of the meetings below.

The agenda below applies to all meetings:

11:30am – Registration Opens

11:30am – 12:00pm – Coffee & Conversation

12:00pm – Lunch

12:30pm – Intro

12:35pm – Legislative Update

1:00pm – League Update

1:20pm – District Meeting Business

1:30pm – Adjourn

To register for the meetings, please scroll down and click the purple REGISTER ONLINE button and choose the meeting that corresponds with your district under the session tab. If you are having an issue completing the registration process, please contact Stevie Cona at scona@pml.org or 717-236-9469 x*256.

REGISTER HERE

Southwest District Meeting
2026-04-29 11:30 - 13:30 | South Fayette Township | Municipal Center, 100 Township Dr, South Fayette, Pennsylvania, 15017, United States

Capitol Conference Webinar Series: Micromobility and Escooter Legislation Impacting Local Governments
2026-04-30 11:00 - 12:00 | PA
Please join us for our next Capitol Conference Webinar on Thursday, April 30 at 11:00 am. Sam Arnold, Director of Legislative Policy for Senator Kearney, and Nolan Ritchie, Majority Executive Director for the Senate Transportation Committee, will provide an overview of the micromobility and escooter legislation in Committee – Senate Bill 1008.

Senator Kearney introduced Senate Bill 1008 to legalize personal use of escooters while providing for local control. The Committee is anticipated to bring up the bill for a vote in the near future and is in the process of developing an omnibus amendment. The amendment would provide additional provisions to Senate Bill 1008, as well as potentially adding Senate Bill 824, parking protected bike lanes, and House Bill 1633, shared escooter program (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and third class cities). Following their presentation, the speakers will hold a brief Q&A with attendees.

REGISTER HERE

*For League, PSATC and APMM members only

Introduction to Local Government Accounting
2026-05-04 09:00 - 2026-05-05 12:00 | PA
TRACK: FINANCIALLength: 3 hoursPrice: Member Registration: $139 per registrant | Non Member Registration: $199 per registrantSend a message to lla@pml.org for group rates of 10 or more registrantsDate: May 4 & 5Time: 9 a.m. to Noon both days

REGISTER NOW

Participants must attend both 3-hour sessions to earn a course certificate.

PLEASE NOTE: This course is designed to be interactive to give you the best learning experience possible. It will be conducted via Zoom. You will need to be able to: Raise your hand, mute/unmute, use chat.

Description:

Whether you’re new to local government finance or looking to sharpen your skills, this course equips you with the essential tools to maintain fiscal accountability, transparency, and regulatory compliance.

Participants will explore the principles of fund accounting and gain practical knowledge of the DCED Chart of Accounts, a critical tool for maintaining standardized financial records across Pennsylvania’s local governments.

Through hands-on instruction and real-world examples, you’ll learn the fundamentals of bookkeeping, navigate key accounting cycles, and master techniques in financial reporting. Special focus is given to detailed guidance on submitting accurate data via the DCED-CLGS-30 form.

The course concludes with an introduction to GASB 34, highlighting its role in annual financial reports and the preparation of audited financial statements in accordance with standards.

Key Topics:

Basics of Bookkeeping

Accounting Cycles

Fund Accounting

DCED Chart of Accounts

Financial reporting

Reporting under DCED-CLGS-30

Basics of GASB 34 annual financial reporting (audited financial statements)

Who Should Attend:

Auditors

Municipal Secretaries

Treasurers

Clerks

Administrators

Managers

Elected/Appointed Officials

Newly Elected Officials

At the end of this course, you can expect to be able to:

Explain the principles of fund accounting as they apply to local government financial operations

Identify the structure and purpose of the DCED Chart of Accounts for standardized financial recordkeeping

Apply basic bookkeeping practices across key accounting cycles within the local government context

Prepare financial reports, including accurate submissions using the DCED-CLGS-30 form

Interpret the role and requirements of GASB 34 in developing annual financial reports and audited statements

Demonstrate fiscal accountability through transparent and regulatory-compliant financial reporting method

By registering for this course, you are authorizing the League Learning Academy to forward information to you at your email address related to educational offerings.

Once your registration is completed, you should receive a confirmation email from The PA Municipal League. Please review when received. If you do not receive an email, it may be in your spam folder.

CANCELLATION & NO SHOW POLICY:Cancellation must be received in writing to lla@pml.org within 72 hours prior to a class to be considered for a full refund.

If cancellation is received after the 72-hour window, a processing fee will be applied for a portion of the refund.

Those who do not cancel or attend forfeit the full registration fee.

PennPRIME Board of Trustees Subcommittee and Board of Trustees Meeting
2026-05-07 00:00 - 2026-05-08 23:59 | Hotel Hershey, 100 Hotel Road, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States

Avoiding the Headlines: How to Evaluate your Municipality’s Compliance, Ethics and Transparency
2026-05-13 09:00 - 12:00 | PA
TRACK: ADMINISTRATIVELength: 3 hoursPrice: Member Registration: $89 per registrant | Non Member Registration: $149 per registrantSend a message to lla@pml.org for group rates of 10 or more registrantsDate: May 13, 2026Time: 9 a.m. to Noon

REGISTER NOW

Participants must attend the entire 3-hour session to earn a course certificate.

Understanding Where Municipal Decisions Can Go Wrong—and How to Fix Them

Course Description

Municipal decisions often go wrong not because of poor intent, but because legal requirements, ethical standards, or transparency rules are misunderstood or overlooked in practice. This course helps participants identify where those breakdowns commonly occur and provides practical strategies to correct issues early reducing risk, improving decision‑making, and strengthening public trust.

This Level 2 course is designed for municipal staff and officials who are prepared to evaluate and assess municipal practices beyond a foundational level. The course focuses on critical review of municipal government responsibilities, including governance authority, ethics, transparency, public accountability, meeting requirements, and records management.

Participants will examine real‑world municipal scenarios to assess compliance with the Sunshine Act, Right‑to‑Know Law, ethics standards, and accessibility requirements. Emphasis is placed on evaluating policies, procedures, and decision‑making for legal sufficiency, risk management, and effective public service. By the end of the course, participants will be equipped to identify compliance issues, assess existing practices, and support informed decisions that strengthen governance and public trust.

Key Topics

Advanced Governance Authority and Responsibility

Ethics, Transparency, and Public Accountability

Sunshine Act Compliance and Public Meetings

Right-to-Know Law and Records Management

Policy, Procedure, and Risk Assessment

Accessibility and Inclusive Public Service

Who should attend:

This course is best suited for individuals who already understand basic municipal operations and are prepared to critically review practices, identify compliance risks, and support sound governance decisions. Includes:

Municipal staff, Elected officials, Municipal administrators and managers, Department heads and supervisors, Board and commission members, Experienced municipal employees

By the end of this course, you can expect to be able to:

Evaluate municipal governance actions for compliance with statutory authority, ethical standards, and transparency requirements.

Assess municipal practices for adherence to the Sunshine Act, including meeting notice, agenda, and executive session requirements.

Analyze records management and response procedures for compliance with the Right-to-Know Law.

Identify ethical risks, conflicts of interest, and accountability concerns in real-world municipal scenarios.

Apply legal and procedural standards to assess the sufficiency of municipal policies and decision-making processes.

Assess accessibility practices related to public meetings, records, and services for compliance and inclusivity.

Recognize potential legal, operational, and reputational risks arising from non-compliant municipal practices.

Recommend improvements to policies, procedures, or practices that strengthen governance, compliance, and public trust.

By registering for this course, you are authorizing the League Learning Academy to forward information to you at your email address related to educational offerings.

Once your registration is completed, you should receive a confirmation email from The PA Municipal League. Please review when received. If you do not receive an email, it may be in your spam folder.

CANCELLATION & NO-SHOW POLICY:Cancellation must be received in writing to lla@pml.org within 72 hours prior to a class to be considered for a full refund.

If cancellation is received after the 72-hour window, a processing fee will be applied for a portion of the refund.

Those who do not cancel or attend forfeit the full registration fee.

Lunch & Learn Series: How COSTARS Works: Cooperative Purchasing in Pennsylvania
2026-05-14 12:10 - 13:10 | PA
TRACK: Administrative and ManagementLength: 1 hourPrice: Member $39 | Non-Member $89Format: Online via Zoom

REGISTER NOW

Description

Lower Costs, Less Administrative Burden, Better Procurement Outcomes

Join us for a basic overview of COSTARS, Pennsylvania’s cooperative purchasing program designed to help local governments and state‑affiliated organizations buy smarter. This session explains how COSTARS leverages statewide purchasing power to provide access to competitively priced, state‑managed contracts—eliminating the time and expense of conducting your own bids.

Learn who can participate, how cooperative purchasing works, and how COSTARS supports cost savings, streamlined procurement, and expanded opportunities for suppliers of all sizes. Ideal for municipalities, school districts, nonprofits, and other eligible organizations new to the program.

Registration

Send a message to lla@pml.org for group rates for 10 or more registrants.

By registering for this webinar, you are authorizing the League Learning Academy to forward information to you at your email address related to educational offerings.

Once your registration is completed, you should receive a confirmation email from The PA Municipal League. It contains the zoom link to the webinar. If you do not receive an email, check your spam folder.

Cancellation & No‑Show Policy

Cancellations must be submitted in writing at least 72 hours before the class to receive a full refund.

Cancellations after 72 hours may receive a partial refund, minus a processing fee.

No‑shows or failure to cancel will forfeit the full registration fee

2026 APMM Annual Conference
2026-05-18 08:00 - 2026-05-20 17:00 | The Landing Hotel – Pittsburgh, 757 Casino Dr, Pittsburgh, PA, 15212, United States
Learn More & Book Hotel Now!

Advanced Budgeting and Cost Management
2026-06-02 09:00 - 12:00 | PA
TRACK: FINANCIALLength: 3 hoursPrice: Member Registration: $89 per registrant | Non Member Registration: $149 per registrantSend a message to lla@pml.org for group rates of 10 or more registrantsDate: June 2, 2026Time: 9 a.m. to Noon

REGISTER NOW

Participants must attend the entire 3-hour session to earn a course certificate.

Course Description

Equip yourself with practical strategies to strengthen financial management and improve organizational trust. Participants will learn how to identify opportunities to reduce personnel‑related expenses, enhance capital budgeting practices, and implement modern budgeting techniques within operational departments.

The course also focuses on effective engagement with elected officials, emphasizing communication and transparency to build confidence in financial decision‑making. Designed for managers, supervisors, and elected leaders involved in budgeting and fiscal oversight, this course provides actionable tools to support sustainable, accountable, and well‑managed local government operations.

In many respects financial operations are the backbone for a high performing municipal government. This course will help in maintaining a financial system to gain trust and integrity in the overall operations of your local government.

Key Topics

Personnel Cost Analysis and Control

Capital Budgeting Improvement Strategies

Modern Budgeting Techniques for Operations

Engage local government officials to build trust and transparency

Who Should Attend

Finance directors

Municipal managers

Elected officials

Newly elected officials

Treasurers

By the end of this course, participants can expect to be able to:

Identify opportunities to reduce personnel‑related expenses

Apply strategies to improve your capital budgeting program

Implement new budgeting techniques in operational departments

Engage local government officials to build financial trust

By registering for this course, you are authorizing the League Learning Academy to forward information to you at your email address related to educational offerings.

Once your registration is completed, you should receive a confirmation email from The PA Municipal League. Please review when received. If you do not receive an email, check your spam folder.

CANCELLATION & NO-SHOW POLICY:

Cancellation must be received in writing to lla@pml.org within 72 hours prior to a class to be considered for a full refund.

If cancellation is received after the 72-hour window, a processing fee will be applied for a portion of the refund.

Those who do not cancel or attend forfeit the full registration fee.

2026 Playground Build | Ferguson Township
2026-08-13 09:00 - 2026-08-15 15:00 | Autumnwood Park | Ferguson Township, 2207 Autumnwood Dr., State College, PA, 16801, United States
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER HERE!

2026 Municipal Leadership Summit
2026-10-07 00:00 - 2026-10-10 23:59 | Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, 325 University Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033
You’re invited to join us from Wednesday, October 7 – Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the HERSHEY LODGE AND CONVENTION CENTER for the Municipal Leadership Summit!

This event is an amazing training opportunity that brings together officials from the Pennsylvania Municipal League, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners, and the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association for an enriching experience of collaboration, education, and celebration.

Why attend?

The League, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners (PSATC) and the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association are heading to Hershey for the 2026 Municipal Leadership Summit. Plan to join us to build your leadership skills, learn the latest in topics important to local government by participating in programming of a professional value, share best practices for serving your community, and learn how others are moving their communities forward. Additional information on session topics will be available shortly.

Things to See and Do in Hershey!

Hotel Reservations

Overnight reservations are available at The Hershey Lodge and Convention Center for $199 per night + 11% taxes. Credit cards are charged a one night’s advance deposit including tax at the time of booking. The Lodge is accepting ONE reservation per person. Rooms are on a first-come, first-served basis. Please reserve your room prior to Monday, September 14, 2026. After this date, room prices may increase and/or rooms may not be available, or the group block may be sold-out. If you are having issues reserving your room reservation online, or need assistance with changing an existing room reservation, please contact the Reservation Office at (855) 729-3108.

Cancellations must be made 72 hours prior to arrival date.

Book Now!

Questions: Direct questions to Mary Costik, CMP, at mcostik@pml.org.

2027 Annual PELRAS Conference
2027-03-03 00:00 - 2027-03-05 23:59 | Hershey Lodge and Convention Center, 325 University Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033
SAVE THE DATE!

Next year, the 2027 Annual PELRAS Conference will return to Hershey on March 3-5, 2027.

PELRAS members will have the first opportunity to book overnight sleeping rooms for next year’s conference beginning in October 2026.

Things to see and do in Hershey!

View Now!

U•COMP Board of Trustees Meeting
2027-06-03 08:00 - 2027-06-04 17:00 | Nittany Lion Inn, 200 West Park Avenue, State College, Pennsylvania, 16803, United States

PennPRIME Board of Trustees Meeting
2027-06-10 08:00 - 2027-06-11 17:00 | Kimpton Hotel Monaco, 620 William Penn Pl, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219, United States

PennPRIME Board of Trustees Meeting
2027-09-15 00:00 - 23:59 | Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, 215 Innovation Boulevard, State College, PA, 16803, United States

PennPRIME Annual Conference & Membership Meeting
2027-09-16 00:00 - 2027-09-17 23:59 | Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, 215 Innovation Boulevard, State College, PA, 16803, United States
