Free Online Resources for Government Officials & Staff

Find answers to common questions and learn new skills through a variety of free online resources developed by Institute of Government experts.

Data Visualization Tools

GeorgiaData.org

GeorgiaDATA.org is Georgia’s central data source. GeorgiaDATA provides the public with quick and easy access to Georgia county and state data.

Videos and Tutorials

This video will provide an overview of the recently approved CARES funding, including best practices for administration and accounting for the funds. CARES Funding Accounting
This video will provide an overview of the recently approved CARES funding, including best practices for administration and accounting for the funds.

View PowerPoint Presentation (with notes)

View PowerPoint Presentation (without notes)

Uniform Chart of Accounts for Local Governments in Georgia- 4th Edition Update and RLGF Implications
The Georgia Department of Community Affairs maintains the Uniform Chart of Accounts for Local Governments. Periodically the chart is updated for changes in accounting pronouncements and laws. This session will focus on recent updates to the chart and how to use the chart in accounting.
View PowerPoint Presentation

What You Need to Know about City-County Consolidation
6:59-minute video: We explain the basics of full governmental consolidation, the process involved in consolidating and some of the pros and cons of becoming a consolidated government.

Georgia's Hotel-Motel Tax
This video is designed to provide a broad understanding of the fundamentals of local government hotel motel tax. The content is prepared by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

State of Georgia Chart of Accounts
This 22 minute video will discuss each chartfield in the State of Georgia Chart of Accounts.

Understanding Georgia Service Delivery Strategy Agreements
23-minute tutorial: This tutorial enables you to recognize the significance of SDS agreements, understand the history of SDS agreements and how they are made and identify the requirements of SDS agreements.

Georgia Department of Administrative Services: How They Assist Local Governments
77-minute tutorial: During this session, representatives of the department discussed purchasing cards, surplus property, training and procurement resources.

Financial Training Videos

This page provides a collection of training videos related to our state, local, and library financial management training.

Setting the Millage Rate Tutorial

This six minute tutorial explains how the millage rate is calculated.

Basic Records Management Tutorials

Introduction to Records Management

This 12 minute presentation is designed to give a brief overview of records management in Georgia including relevant laws, the importance of records management, and the need for records retention schedules.

Records Management Implementation

This 12 minute presentation discusses the highlights of implementing records management in a government agency.

Setting Up a Records Center/Archives

This 12.5 minute presentation provides information on the Georgia Archives, the State Records Center, and on setting up an Archives or Records Center.

Publications

Compliance Auditing in Georgia Counties and Municipalities

Updated annually, Compliance Auditing is designed to help guide those responsible for conducting local government audits.

Reports & Other Free Online Resources

Georgia Criminal Justice Data Landscape Report

The Georgia Criminal Justice Data Landscape Report is provided as a service to the public and policy makers interested in Georgia’s criminal justice system. This report provides data on criminal justice topics and data trends much like an almanac, including information on Georgia’s adult and juvenile justice reforms and how they have impacted criminal justice data trends.

Experiential Learning Report

This guide is designed to help business leaders and school leaders conceptualize, develop and implement high-quality experiential learning experiences for high school students. The experiential learning guide draws from best practices and examples from across Georgia and the United States to inform investment decisions related to experiential learning programs.

Public Outreach for Flood Protection in Georgia: A CRS Toolkit

Public Outreach for Flood Protection in Georgia helps Georgia communities meet public outreach requirements under FEMA’s Community Rating System. The interactive guide was created in partnership with Georgia Sea Grant and funded by a Coastal Incentive Grant from the Georgia Coastal Resources Division.

Powering the Future and Protecting Consumers: Ensuring Reliability, Resilience, and Quality of Electricity Service

Powering the Future provides a historical perspective on managing America’s electric industry, exploring the potential impact of alternate management strategies on proven methods of maintaining reliability, resilience and quality of service.

2013 School Board Governance Symposium: Improving Schools through Board Governance

Boards face a variety of governance challenges from school personnel management to policy leadership and much more. There is an established need for a greater understanding of the reasons for breakdowns in school board governance and how to avoid the causes in the future.

Local Governments and School Systems: Partnering for Better Communities

The Institute of Government, in collaboration with the Archway Partnership and UGA's School of Public and International Affairs, embarked on a study in 2014 to explore the potential for collaboration among Georgia school systems and local governments.

Planning & Environmental Services - Downtown Development Reports
View Downtown Renaissance Program reports and more.

Planning & Environmental Services - Master Planning & Visioning Reports

View Master Plan reports and Strategic Vision and Planning reports.

Going Solar in Georgia: Opportunities for Local Governments

This 19-page overview assesses ways local governments can integrate solar in their energy-use matrix, reviews the benefits and possible drawbacks of solar generating systems and examines financing options that are available to local governments.

Newsworthy

Newsworthy is our quarterly electronic newsletter. It is intended to provide you with a view of our current public service and outreach activities, along with special initiatives and partnerships.

Annual Report

State and local officials can become better acquainted with the wide range of services we offer through the annual reports that are prepared for each calendar year.