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Local Governmental Organizations

The financial management of local governmental organizations has never been more challenging or critical than it is today. The growing complexity of governmental reporting and compliance issues, the heightened demand for accountability as stewards of public resources, and the constant pressure to provide exceptional public services while maintaining budgetary integrity, have significantly increased the demands on local government organization business officials and governance. LB Carlson provides effective assurance, compliance, and advisory services to help our governmental clients meet these challenges and maintain the trust of their constituents and stakeholders.

An experienced and expert resource 

It’s important for local governments to partner with a firm that offers expert audit, accounting, and advisory services dedicated to this complex field. Our governmental services team’s leadership and experience serving the highly specialized needs of the local governmental sector in Minnesota is unsurpassed.

This experience brings a thorough understanding of this unique environment, ensuring our clients receive expert solutions that consider the latest developments in governmental accounting, compliance, and legislation. The leadership and staff of our governmental services team have the specialized knowledge and experience necessary to deliver high-quality services in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Governmental organizations we partner with

LB Carlson’s governmental services team currently provides services to approximately 100 local governmental organizations, including:

  • Cities and Townships
  • Independent and Intermediate School Districts
  • Charter schools
  • Police and Fire Relief Associations
  • Special Education Cooperatives
  • A variety of governmental joint ventures and jointly governed organizations

How we can help you!

In addition to traditional attestation, compliance, and accounting services, LB Carlson offers a wide range of customized advisory services specifically tailored to meet the needs of our governmental clients. Our governmental services team’s depth of specialized knowledge and thorough understanding of this constantly evolving environment enables us to provide responsive and forward-thinking support to our governmental clients throughout the year.

Practice Leader
Jim Eichten

Your Local Governmental Organizations Team Leaders

Aaron Nielsen,
Principal

Jaclyn Huegel,
Principal

William Lauer,
Principal

Jennifer Dickman,
Client Manager

Zekeill Johnson,
Client Manager

Blog Posts

PPP changes

PPP revisions target smallest businesses

The Biden administration has announced several reforms to the popular Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to bring greater relief to the smallest and most vulnerable businesses. Among other things, the administration is imposing a two-week moratorium on loans to companies with 20 or more employees and focusing on smaller businesses. It’s also changing several program rules to expand eligibility for the 100% forgivable PPP loans.

Sales tax nexus

The changing landscape of sales tax nexus

It has been almost two years since the United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in South Dakota vs. Wayfair that states can require the collection and remission of sales tax without physical presence nexus. If you and your business have not yet educated yourself on the new requirements, now is a good time to do so.

What will Biden’s tax plan do for you?

A tax pendulum swings. It swings right and taxes may be cut, and then it swings left and taxes may rise. Meanwhile, taxpayers, accountants and tax counsel try to interpret what might be the outcome. The recent election swung the pendulum to the left, which will likely increase taxes.  

Business Planning

Surviving Adversity: A CEO Panel Discussion Part 3

In part one of Surviving Adversity: A CEO Panel Discussion, we highlighted the conversations around revenue strategy during the pandemic. In part two, we received how the panelists have adapted the way they manage their graphic arts business in light of COVID-19, including the impact to staffing and internal processes. In part three, we’re taking a look at some of the future predictions for the industry in light of COVID’s impact. 

Financial statements

View your financial statements through the right lens

Many business owners generate financial statements, at least in part, because lenders and other stakeholders demand it. You’re likely also aware of how insightful properly prepared financial statements can be — especially when they follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. But how can you best extract these useful insights? One way is to view your financial statements through a wide variety of “lenses” provided by key performance indicators (KPIs). These are calculations or formulas into which you can plug numbers from your financial statements and get results that enable you to make better business decisions.

Required Minimum Distributions

Don’t forget to take required minimum distributions this year

If you have a traditional IRA or tax-deferred retirement plan account, you probably know that you must take required minimum distributions (RMDs) when you reach a certain age — or you’ll be penalized. The CARES Act, which passed last March, allowed people to skip taking these withdrawals in 2020 but now that we’re in 2021, RMDs must be taken again.