CLASSROOM TRAINING

Currently, we do not offer in-house training for some of our products, as the training is more beneficial when done at your location with your data.   If the program you are interested in is not among those listed, no classroom training is available at this time.

 
TAX SYSTEM CLASSES

Level I - Introduction & Creating a Tax Roll

Recommended for the Treasurer or designated person who is creating their first tax roll using the Equalizer Tax System. Course covers general setup and tax setup items relevant to creating a tax roll. Importing from Equalizer Assessing, developing a tax roll checklist, and establishing millage rates for all billing types is also covered, as well as working with mortgage information and reviewing options for adding special assessments to the tax bill.  A review of the reports available for balancing purposes and tax bill printing throughout the roll setup will be presented.

Level II - Working with the Tax Roll

Designed for any Tax System user working with an existing tax roll throughout the course of the collection cycle. Roll maintenance such as name/address updates, mortgage codes, deferments, and handling taxpayer inquiries will be covered. Course will also include payment processing, adjustments, and roll balancing with reports related to each item.

 Equalizer Special Assessment System

Program setup and creating a multi-year, principal/interest type of Special Assessment District with various benefit calculation methods will be covered. Creating a separate billing for special assessments and/or billing the annual installment on a current tax bill will also be reviewed.

 Delinquent Personal Property System

Designed to acquaint new users with the Equalizer Delinquent Personal Property System. Topics discussed in detail are initial setup, data entry, generating reports, entering general ledger account numbers, and receipting. Also discussed will be the use of the built-in Report Writer.

 Combined Class - Report Writer, Queries, Filters

Designed for any interested Equalizer Assessing or Tax System users. The features of the Report Writer are the same for both systems and will be covered in detail.  Examples are given of creating custom reports.

 
ASSESSING/EQUALIZATION SYSTEM CLASSES

The State Assessor’s Board has approved these courses for 6-hour continuing education credit.

Level I - Program Introduction and Setup

Recommended for the Assessor or designated new user of the Assessing/Equalization System. The course will cover all master list setup in Program Management and its importance in data entry and reporting. Roll balancing and frequently used reports will also be covered. Understanding the importance of a plan to remove parcels from the override calculation status will be discussed.

Level II - Assessment Roll & Data Entry

This course demonstrates how to perform the assessment roll including name/address changes, sales, uncapping, P.R.E.s, building permits, and processing splits. Entering all types of appraisal information will also be covered.

Level III - Land Tables, ECFs & Sales Studies

Designed for the user that will be responsible for creating/maintaining land rates, analyzing/setting ECFs, and performing sales studies. The course will also review related reports for each of these features.

Level IV- Assessing Cycle & Special Acts Parcels

This course reviews the entire assessment cycle, beginning with creating a new assessment year database, rolling over the database, and processing all types of adjustments through end of assessment roll review (needed prior to sending Change Notices). As a part of this course, Special Acts parcels will be reviewed with ideas and reports that are useful for managing special rolls.

Combined Class - Report Writer, Queries, Filters

Designed for any interested Equalizer Assessing or Tax System users. The features of the Report Writer are the same for both systems and will be covered in detail.  Examples are given of creating custom reports.

Apex Sketch

This class will cover the use of the Apex IV Windows Assessor sketching program to draw both buildings and land, and its integration into the Equalizer Assessing System.

Personal Property

This class is designed for assessors, appraisers, and other office staff who perform duties pertaining to the processing, data entry, and reporting of Personal Property.  Topics discussed in detail are printing of personal property statements, processing statements, assessing buildings on leased land, estimating assessments for non-filers, and Board of Review changes.

Commercial/Industrial

This class will cover the details of inputting Commercial/Industrial structures into the Equalizer Assessing System.  Examples of Calculator, Segregated, Unit-in-Place, and Income Capitalization will be used.

Splits/Combination

This course specifically deals with Splits & Combinations of parcels, and how the data is managed in the Assessing System. It is designed to make users more effective and efficient in creating new parcels in accordance with the recommended method as put forth by State Tax Commission Bulletin 13, of 1996

 
BUILDING DEPARTMENT SYSTEM CLASSES

 Introduction Course for Inspectors

Designed for inspectors and code enforcement officers, this class will focus on those features most important to individuals responsible for managing these activities. Included in this course will be such items as Code Enforcement setup and techniques, Permit setup and inspection techniques, how to view/print the daily schedule, how to create automatic reminders, how to set up and use rental certification cases, and a host of other useful features.

 Introduction Course for Support Staff

This class presents the fundamentals necessary for data entry and primary program management and is designed for those users who are new to the Building Department System and wish to learn how to best utilize the System in their daily operations. Class contents include program setup features, how to add permits, schedule and print daily inspections, add inspection results, print standard formatted letters, how to set up and manage projects, and how to best utilize the automated reminder feature as well as many other components useful to day-to-day operations.

 Administration Staff (Advanced)

Created with administrative-level users in mind, this class covers more advanced features and how to best utilize the System for property information management. Primary topics covered in this class are Report Writing and Letter Writing instructions. Also included in this class will be such items as project management issues, user account management, maintenance utilities, name management information, mass letter writing features and other administrative-level topics. Suggested prerequisite: Support Staff Introduction Course.

 New Version Introduction

This class is designed for the experienced user (administrators and office staff) who are already familiar with the original Permit System and who wish to learn the new features now available with the new version (Building Department System). This course will cover such newly added items as Rental Certification, Inspection Deficiency window, Reminder Management, new Naming Configuration issues and their impact, financial features, and Mass Letter-writing techniques.

 
FUND ACCOUNTING SYSTEM CLASSES

We are now offering Fund Accounting classes to help any municipal employee grasp different concepts of the Fund Accounting process.  Although we will be using our software to teach these concepts, these classes are not designed to replace our official program training, as they will cover more general topics regarding the basics of Fund Accounting. If you wish for more direct program-related training, please give us a call at 517.641.8900 to set up a date for one of our trainers to come to your site.

Fund Accounting I

This course is designed for anyone wishing to grasp the basics of Fund Accounting.  During the class we will cover topics such as: description of fund accounting, components of a uniform chart of accounts, typical accounting transactions including inter-fund activity, pooled cash vs. non-pooled cash, internal controls, preparing an account reconciliation, budgeting, basic financial statements and what to expect during your annual audit.

Fund Accounting II

This course is designed for anyone wishing to learn more of the reporting aspects of Fund Accounting and more advanced topics.  During the class we will cover topics such as: GASB 34 reporting, F-65 reporting, and Fixed Assets, which includes Capitalization; Depreciation; Repairs and Maintenance; Disposals and Improvements, Purchase Orders and Encumbrances, and Project Accounting.

Utility Billing Report Writer

This course is designed for users of the Utility Billing System wishing to learn the features of the Report Writer and examples of creating custom reports.

 UB Refresher Course I (Beginner)

A one-day class designed to acquaint users with the basic features and processes in the Equalizer Utility Billing System. The class is perfect for the first time user or any experienced user wishing to sharpen or refresh their skills. This course covers:
    Creating a Billing Cycle
    Exporting/Importing Meter Reads
    Estimating Meter Reads
    Calculating, printing & journalizing bills
    Accepting payments
    Calculating Penalties/Interest
    Final Bills
    Refunding Deposits
    Billing Adjustments
    Refunding Credits/Deposits to EQ Accounts Payable
    Using Account/Service/Billing Item Templates

 UB Refresher Course II (Advanced)
A one-day class designed to acquaint users with more advanced utilities and processes in the Equalizer Utility Billing System. The class is perfect for the seasoned user who wishes to learn or brush up on skills with these advanced features. This course covers:
    Past Due/Shut Off Wizard
    Work Orders
    Meter Change-outs
    Meter Roll-over
    Meter Head Changes
    Working with Deposits
    Attachment System
    Letter-writer System
    Reconciliation Manager
    Transfer Delinquent Utility Bills to EQ Tax System