Press Releases
2026 Fall Newsletter
President's Report
As I sit down to write my final message as President of GGFOA, it is hard to believe how quickly this year has passed. At our Annual Conference in October, I will have the privilege of passing the torch to our next President and closing out a year that has been both busy and incredibly rewarding.
I am proud of what we have accomplished together this year. In March, we celebrated the inaugural Georgia Government Finance Professionals Week, giving us an opportunity to recognize the important work performed every day by government finance professionals across Georgia. We also re-launched our Spring Training Seminar, creating another opportunity for our members to learn, connect, and grow professionally. Both initiatives were made possible by members, partners, volunteers, and board members who were willing to take an idea and help turn it into something meaningful.
Serving as President of GGFOA has been an incredible honor. I have enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside so many talented professionals, strengthen relationships across our association, and think intentionally about how GGFOA can continue to evolve and add value for our members. I am grateful to everyone who has offered their time, ideas, encouragement, and support throughout the year.
As my term comes to a close, one of the things I hope to leave with each of you is an invitation to get involved. GGFOA is strongest when our members participate—not only by attending conferences and training opportunities, but also by helping shape them. Our committees offer a great way to become more connected to the association, build relationships with colleagues across the state, share your expertise, and have a voice in what GGFOA becomes next. Whether you are a longtime member or relatively new to the profession, there is a place for you to contribute.
While this may be my last newsletter message as President, I am excited about what comes next for GGFOA. We have tremendous opportunities ahead of us to build on the progress we have made, strengthen our profession, and continue finding new ways to serve our members.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your President. It has truly been a privilege, and I look forward to seeing many of you in October as we celebrate another successful year and begin the next chapter for GGFOA together.
Thanks,
Ashlan Troutman Webb
Upcoming Events
We’re looking forward to seeing you at the 2026 GGFOA Annual Conference!
📍 Savannah Convention Center | Savannah, GA
🗓️ October 11–14, 2026
🎓 Earn up to 15.6 CPE credits
Join us in beautiful Savannah for a few days of professional development, networking, and opportunities to connect with fellow government finance professionals.
Download the Whova App for Conference Information
We can’t wait to see you there!
Local Financial Management Program
Registration is now open for FY2027 classes!
Reserve your seat today!
Classes are available in person at the UGA Gwinnett campus and through live virtual formats. Visit the course pages to learn more via the link below.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Trends & Insights
CSLFRF Closeout: Key Considerations as the Program Winds Down
By Hope Pendergrass, CPA | Mauldin & Jenkins
As the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CSLFRF/SLFRF) program approaches its final expenditure deadline, local governments should begin focusing on closeout readiness. While many recipients have already obligated their funds, successfully spending the last dollar is only one step in the process.
The U.S. Treasury has emphasized that recipients remain responsible for documentation, reporting, compliance, and audit support long after the funds have been expended.
The Fraud of Tomorrow Won’t Be the Fraud of Yesterday
By Justin Burruss, Audit Manager | Rushton, LLC
When many of us learned about fraud in school or early in our careers, the examples were fairly predictable. An employee stole cash, wrote checks to themselves, created a fictitious vendor, manipulated payroll, or used an organization’s credit card for personal expenses. The amounts might have started small and grown over time as the employee’s confidence grew. In many cases, it could have taken months or even years for the losses to become material.
Those risks have not disappeared. In fact, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ Occupational Fraud 2026: A Report to the Nations found that asset misappropriation was still involved in 90% of the occupational fraud cases studied. The typical occupational fraud also lasted about 12 months before it was detected.
Global Payments Review: Pros, Cons, Fees & Statement Audit
By Matt Rej, Managing Partner | Merchant Cost Consulting
Global Payments (formerly OpenEdge) is one of the world’s largest payment processors. The company handles more than 4.6+ million merchant accounts, directly under the Global Payments name and through subsidiaries it has acquired over the years.
Major providers like TSYS, Heartland, and EVO Payments (among others) are all owned by Global Payments.
However, many of these subsidiaries operate independently in the sense that they have their own fee structures and divisions. So for the purposes of this review, we’re going to focus specifically on merchant accounts that are managed directly by Global Payments, including OpenEdge.
