Columbia Association

In August, 2004, I was appointed to the Budget Committee. This committee of five was charged with reviewing the pilot two-year budget process, making a five-year analysis of the internal economic model, and to examine the long-term debt management policy of the corporation.

Over the years, I was reappointed in 2005 through 2008 and after that, to the Financial Advisory Committee until 2010. In 2005, I was elected chairman by the committee, a position I held until 2009. The committees were asked to look at long term debt management, review the allocation formulae, review the budget format several times, financial projections, and look at the effects of redeveloping downtown Columbia. The committees were asked to start keeping minutes in 2007 and those should all be linked in the related posts, below.

As an aside, it was my experience on the Budget Committee that spurred me into studying public financial management. I had even wanted to write my dissertation on predicting municipal bankruptcy, a project that grew straight out of our 2005 charge, where board member Phil Marcus had asked us to look at the Altman’s Z-score.

Related Posts

Jan 28

The Time Has Come to Incorporate Columbia

Columbia, Maryland, is a vibrant and growing community that has been a leader in urban planning and development for decades. Despite its many achievements, however,...

Mar 14

Financial Metrics for Homeowners' Associations

<a href="//www.slideshare.net/jameshoward/private-applications-of" title="Private Applications of...

Apr 13

Review of the CA's Business Plan

The CA’s Financial Advisory Committee has completed its requested review of the CA’s proposed business plan. <p style=" margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;...

Mar 11

Review of the Columbia Association's Fiscal Targets

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Oct 13

Financial Advisory Committee Meeting Tonight

The Financial Advisory Committee will meet tonight at the Columbia Association’s maintenance facility just off Snowden River Parkway.

Sep 30

The Financial Advisory Committee has Recommenced

Last night, the Columbia Association’s Financial Advisory Committee held its first meeting of the term and we introduced three new members.  Those members have a...

Apr 26

Thank You

The results are in and my opponent won with a vote of 206 to 164. The final results are reported as 301 to 164, due...

Apr 18

Who is a Stakeholder?

One of the comments I made in my candidate’s questionnaire for the Columbia Flier was that the new CA President needed to heal relations with...

Apr 17

Greening the Columbia Association

The current issue of Public Administration Times contains an article called “Strategic ‘Greening’ for Municipal Park and Recreation Agencies” by Steven N. Waller. The...

Apr 11

Mass Transit Alternatives for Columbians

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I am blogging for the University of Baltimore weekly until the beginning of May. This...

Apr 07

CA Openness and Transparency

When I joined the CA’s Budget Committee in 2004, I was astonished to learn the budgetary process was mostly shrouded in mystery. Meetings were not...

Apr 05

Baltimore Sun Story on the CA Election

This morning’s Baltimore Sun featured an article on this year’s CA election. It is delightful to be called young. Just to elaborate on some...

Mar 31

Join My Facebook Page

Everyone is invited to join the Facebook page for my candidacy. We will be organizing for the Long Reach community clean up there on...

Mar 24

Fitch Affirms CA's AA Credit Rating

Today, Fitch affirmed the CA’s AA credit rating. I am proud of the work the the Budget Committee has done to make this...

Mar 23

My Candidate Statement for the Columbia Council

I love Columbia and I am proud to live here with my family. My wife and I plan to raise our children here because we...

Mar 17

Village Revitalization and the Columbia Association

I received this question recently, from a Long Reach resident: What are your views on village revitalization and the role that CA should play....

Mar 16

My Candidacy for the Columbia Council

I am running for the Columbia Council Representative for Long Reach position.

Feb 13

Financial Advisory Committee Reports to the Columbia Association (3)

The Financial Advisory Committee has returned three reports to the Columbia Association. This report explains why the FAC thinks it is inadvisable to maintain a...

Feb 13

Financial Advisory Committee Reports to the Columbia Association (2)

The Financial Advisory Committee has returned three reports to the Columbia Association. This report explains why the FAC was unable to estimate the effects of...

Feb 13

Financial Advisory Committee Reports to the Columbia Association (1)

The Financial Advisory Committee has returned three reports to the Columbia Association. This report explains FAC’s opinion of the proposed budget changes are. <p style="...

Aug 29

Budget Committee Renamed

The Columbia Association’s Budget Committee will now been known as the Financial Advisory Committee.

Apr 24

CA Budget Committee Report on the Proposal to Lower the Assessment Increase Cap

The Budget Committee has released is report on the proposal to lower the assessment increase cap. You can download the report here.

Mar 27

New Budget Committee Meetings

The Budget Committee will be meeting to review and consider the proposed change in the assessment increase cap on April 2 and April 9...

Mar 11

Columbia Needs Municipal Wireless

The Columbia Association ought to consider establishing a Columbia-wide free wireless service for residents and visitors. Newer wireless technology, such as wireless mesh...

Mar 05

CA Budget Committee Called Back

The Columbia Association’s Board of Directors has asked the Budget Committee to reassemble and look into the following: At this time, the PSC...

Mar 04

Letter to the Columbia Association on the Availability of the Budget Committee during the Spring of 2008

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Feb 13

Columbia Association Budget Committee Minutes (January 30, 2008)

Budget Advisory Committee Minutes January 30, 2008 Meeting In Attendance: Committee - Mary Chiu, James Howard, Roger Hultgren, Dan Woodruff Others - Patricia Laidig,...

Feb 09

Engaging the Public Through Technology

As I mentioned before, William Erskine has created a blog for the Public Engagement in Land Use Planning Task Force. This blog posts...

Feb 08

2008 Budget Committee Final Reports

The final reports for the Budget Committee were presented to the CA at a budget work session last night: The Capital and Operating...

Feb 02

2008 Budget Committee Wrapup

The Budget Committee will wrap up its work this year with a final meeting scheduled for February 6, 2008 at 1830, and will present its...

Feb 02

New City Upon a Hill: A History of Columbia, Maryland

Joseph R. Mitchell and David L. Stebenne, New City Upon a Hill: A History of Columbia, Maryland (Charleston, SC: History Press, 2007). The...

Jan 30

Correction, Budget Meeting on 1/30

The Budget Committee meeting is on January 30, 2008 at 19:30, not January 31.

Jan 21

Budget Committee meeting for 1/23 rescheduled

The Budget Committee meeting previously scheduled for January 23, 2008 has been rescheduled for January 31, 2008.

Jan 18

Budget Committee Minutes, 10/24, 11/28

I have posted the minutes for the October 24th and November 28th Budget Committee minutes. November 28, 2007 Meeting October 24, 2007...

Jan 18

Columbia Association Budget Committee Minutes (November 28, 2007)

In Attendance: Committee - Mary Chiu, James Howard, Roger Hultgren, Dan Woodruff Others - None The meeting began at approximately 7:30pm. The agenda...

Jan 18

Columbia Association Budget Committee Minutes (October 24, 2007)

In Attendance: Committee - Mary Chiu, James Howard, Roger Hultgren, Dan Woodruff Others - None The meeting began at approximately 7:30pm. The agenda...

Dec 07

Budget Committee Letter on the Health Benefits Charge

The Budget Committee has issued a letter to the Planning and Strategy Committee regarding its charges: 6 December 2007 Dear Ms. Broida, Given the...

Nov 14

Follow-up Letter on Non-Disclosure Agreements

I have posted a follow up letter to the Performance Oversight Committee of the Columbia Association regarding the revised non-disclosure agreement policy. The revised policy...

Oct 29

Columbia Association Budget Committee Minutes (September 26, 2007)

In attendance: Committee: Mary Chiu, James Howard, Roger Hultgren, Dan Woodruff Others: Phil Kirsch, Gail Broida and Joel Broida (CA Bd reps), Michelle Miller,...

Oct 29

Columbia Association Budget Committee Minutes (September 20, 2007)

In attendance: Committee: Mary Chiu, James Howard, Dan Woodruff Others: Jackie Felker (DS), Patricia Laidig (TC), Susan Smith (RH), Andy Stack (OB), Wendy Tauker...

Oct 29

Columbia Association Budget Committee Minutes (August 22, 2007)

In attendance: Committee: Mary Chiu, James Howard, Roger Hultgren, Dan Woodruff At 7:36pm, James Howard, as outgoing Chair from last year, called the...

Sep 15

Regarding Non-Disclosure Agreements

The Columbia Association recently proposed subjecting all members of resident advisory committees to a broad non-disclosure agreement over confidential information. I submitted this...

Aug 29

Budget Committee minutes, February 7, 2007

The minutes of the February 7, 2007 Budget Committee were approved on August 22, 2007.

Aug 22

2008 Budget Committee Meeting Schedule

The Fiscal Year 2008 Columbia Budget Committee will begin operating on Wednesday, August 22. The committee will be meeting once per month: August...

Jun 20

Letter regarding non-financial performance metrics

This letter presents an overview of what priorities must be established when formulating non-financial performance metrics. The letter was sent to the Performance Oversight...

May 10

Non-financial performance metrics

The Columbia Association’s Planning and Strategy Committee asked me to present at the May 10th meeting about non-financial performance metrics. The testimony is available...

Image by Scott Saghirian / Wikimedia.