Local governmental organizations operate in a highly regulated and heavily scrutinized environment. Partnering with an audit, accounting, and advisory firm with the specialized knowledge and experience necessary to help navigate the challenges of this industry is essential. LB Carlson’s governmental services team offers a full menu of expert services to assist our clients in meeting and exceeding reporting and compliance requirements, maximizing efficiencies, and maintaining the public trust.
Assurance and Attestation Services
In the public sector, nothing is more important to the credibility of local governmental organizations than exhibiting sound financial management and regulatory compliance over the use of the public funds with which they are entrusted. LB Carlson annually provides assurance and attestation services to approximately 100 such organizations, including: cities and townships, school districts and cooperatives, charter schools, police and fire relief (pension) associations, and numerous other joint ventures and commissions. Our assurance and attest services include:
Advisory services
We offer a wide range of customized advisory services specifically tailored to meet the needs of our governmental clients, including:
Tax Services
These are only some of the services we offer. Please contact LB Carlson’s governmental services team to see what we can do for you!
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law on March 27 provides $349 billion in funding for the Small Business Administration (SBA) in an effort to provide assistance and relief to America’s small businesses struggling under the weight of COVID-19. The Act included a paycheck protection provision for small businesses by providing additional funding to the SBA for specific areas of need and expanding the SBA’s 7(a) loan program.
Small businesses are now eligible for up to $2 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA). President Trump has called for an additional $50 billion in funding to the SBA’s lending program from Congress. While the $50 billion is not yet approved, the SBA can issue an Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration, thanks to the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act.
Knowing what to expect before starting the loan process will help prevent unnecessary errors and rework. Completing the application process quickly and accurately will be key as there will be high demand and processing times will likely increase. We’ve put together the following summary of what business owners can expect when applying for an SBA loan.
The following article is a high-level overview of the tax credits available under the CARES and FFCRA Acts.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) signed on March 18, 2020, made unprecedented expansions to paid sick and family (childcare) leave provisions in light of the challenges for the American workforce due to COVID-19. The expansions to paid sick and family leave cover employers with up to 500 employees, and tax credits are available for up to 100% of qualifying wages paid. Eligible employers are granted a grace period by the DOL to come into compliance with the Act as long as employers act reasonably and in good faith during the grace period.
The distribution of economic impact payments is expected to begin in the next three weeks and be available throughout the rest of 2020. With so much news circulating, it can be difficult to keep tabs on the latest updates. We also recognize it can be challenging to separate the legitimate updates from speculation. Below we have put together a summary of what we know so far about the economic impact payments.
To aid individuals during this time of economic uncertainty, the CARES Act has a few provisions that change some of the rules for retirement plan distribution rules, allowing qualified individuals access to their retirement funds. Below we have summarized what you need to know about retirement plan relief under the CARES Act.