Planning is underway for the 2026 CSMFO annual conference, which is scheduled for February
24-27, 2026, in Palm Springs. The conference theme, Explore Our Financial Landscape,
acknowledges the wide-ranging components of CSMFO and encourages us to dig deeper
into the complex, ever-evolving world of government finance – from uncovering new
insights and navigating economic shifts, to understanding the unique ecosystems
of our agencies. We look forward to the opportunity to connect with you and your
colleagues for our premier training opportunity for staff at all levels, to learn
from each other, and to take advantage of all that CSMFO has to offer!
At this time, we are seeking proposals for concurrent sessions. If you have an idea
for a session, please let us know by completing the attached submission form. Note that these are NOT paid presentation opportunities.
Concurrent sessions cover all aspects of local government finance, including accounting
and financial reporting, budget and financial planning, financial management, treasury
and debt, information technology and innovation, leadership and management skills,
and any other finance-related topic. Many of our members either have utilities,
or are separate special districts, so we are always interested in session proposals
that would be pertinent to their operations. If you have an idea for a great session,
please let us know by submitting a response to our Call for Presentations.
“Explore our Financial Landscape” suggests a few powerful ideas:
- Discovery and Learning – inviting
professionals to dig deeper into the
“terrain” of government finance – policies,
trends, regulations, and best practices
– much like explorers charting a new
map, encouraging continuous learning
and curiosity.
- Navigating Challenges and Opportunities – just like a real landscape has mountains,
valleys, rivers, and deserts, the financial
landscape has budget challenges, revenue
opportunities, policy changes, and
economic shifts, inspiring people to
build the skills to successfully navigate
complex environments.
- Understanding Diversity – every
government entity has its own financial
“ecosystem,” highlighting the idea
that there’s a rich variety of practices
and conditions to study, appreciate,
and learn from.
- Innovation and Adaptability – exploration
often leads to new discoveries, inspiring
finance professionals to not just maintain
the status quo, but to seek out new
solutions, technologies, and strategies
that can improve their communities.
- Collaboration and Sharing – explorers
often work in teams and rely on shared
knowledge, suggesting the importance
of collaboration across cities, counties
and agencies, learning from each other’s
successes and mistakes.
Topics should be educational, non-commercial, and provide value to a wide-ranging
group of attendees. Sales pitches or marketing for products and/or
services submitted as proposals will NOT be considered. Sessions should
include at least one practitioner who is currently employed with a
California public agency. If a public agency practitioner is not included, your proposal will not be considered. Because concurrent sessions are typically 1 hour 15 minutes in length,
the number of speakers is limited to no more than three. If your proposal
consists of a moderated panel discussion, your panel moderator is included
in the maximum allowable number of 3. Please make sure everyone proposed for your session is available during the dates of the conference (February 24-27, 2026).
Scheduling of sessions will likely be determined before December 1, 2025.
CSMFO will notify you if your proposal is selected.
Any questions regarding this process should be sent to Harriet Commons,
CSMFO Annual Conference Program Coordinator, at hcommons@comcast.net.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE – TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2025
