“I had the finance director with me and her assistant and the first time they heard it, they jumped all over it. They were really happy to know the program would be there. So, we were ready to go and if we could have had [the League] show up the next day, we would be ready for that,” Barber shared. “They gave a presentation that was easy to understand what they were there for, what the mission would be and what opportunities we would have to work more with the League.” As the program gets underway this summer, hopes are high for how this program will be able to reach towns where they are and provide assistance that walks alongside them and sets them up to be successful moving forward. “We want it to be an opportunity for the town’s employees to learn how to have a healthy financial process in place. … We are going to get their accounting caught up. We are going to help them get their audits caught up. More importantly, what we want to achieve is that we want them to then know how to stay caught up and not to get behind,” Obiol said. “They walk into jobs that have quite a bit of responsibility and tasks and oftentimes with very little instruction or training…so hopefully we will provide that general foundation for small towns that they have never been able to receive.” The inaugural towns that will be a part of AIM are optimistic about how this program will support them in running their town finances more efficiently and provide them with a solid foundation that can be passed on as the town moves toward the future. “I think what [the League] does is amazing,” Barber said. “We’re so grateful for any help and [the League] coming in to help I think will make more of a smooth transition for the next folks that run for office. So, we are looking ahead toward the future for them.” continued from page 15 ARP Corner NCLM.ORG 17
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