PURPOSE
The daily operation of municipal government inevitably requires its officials
and administrators to possess a sufficient level of expertise and knowledge.
Elected and appointed municipal officials must understand federal, state, and
local issues that affect their ability to govern, as well as keep informed of
every development that directly or indirectly impacts their village, town, or
city.
Since 1926, the Louisiana Municipal Association (LMA) has existed to provide
a broad range of services to the state’s incorporated municipalities – whose
elected officials and administrators benefit from a rich array of informational
services and activities, which enhance their ability to govern responsibly.
Membership in LMA, a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-political organization,
is voluntary.
LMA brings together municipal leaders in the active pursuit for solutions to
common problems, discussion of federal and state policies to resolve pressing
issues, and dialogue with federal and state policymakers to improve the system
of government at all levels and expand municipal-government autonomy. LMA’s
primary quest is to promote among its members progressive leadership, efficient
delivery of public services, and effective performance in government.
IMPACTING POLICY
With a unified voice, LMA speaks out on issues affecting municipal government
and advocates stronger federal-state-local partnerships. LMA’s Official
Policy Statement, revised annually, guides members in advocating changes to
improve municipal fiscal conditions and increase their decision-making
authority. A successful outcome of this policy development process was the
securing of voter approval of a constitutional amendment, proposed by LMA, to
ease the financial plight of communities by restricting the state’s ability to
impose unfunded mandates on local governments.
LMA’s legislative relations program, one of the most visible and active in
the state, utilizes an effective grassroots lobbying network in which
well-informed volunteer elected municipal officials make federal and state
legislators and officials aware, often within minutes, of the Association’s
position on priority issues.
An active affiliation with the National League of Cities, Southern Municipal
Conference, and Louisiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations
provides LMA with many opportunities to proactively alert federal and state
policy-leaders of the consequences of critical decisions that affect the fiscal
capacity of local governments.
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
The knowledge gained by municipal officials from training programs and
publications often leads to innovative efforts to boost the capacity and
performance of town and city governments. The Louisiana Municipal
Review reports on federal and state actions that impact towns and cities,
trends in local government, and new ways of delivering public services. Other
publications indispensable to municipal officials include the Handbook
for Municipal Officials of Louisiana, Directory of Louisiana Municipal
Officials, Louisiana Municipal Laws (revised each year), The Lawrason
Act, Wage and Salary Survey, Mayor’s Court Handbook, Louisiana Model Criminal
Code, and Occupational License Tax Manual, and during legislative
sessions, the weekly LMA Legislative Report.
Through the Louisiana Municipal Risk Management Agency, LMA helps protect the
human, physical, and financial resources of municipalities. Risk Management,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary company of LMA, provides versatile,
cost-effective insurance marketing, risk management, municipal safety, and
insurance defense programs. Other LMA services and activities, such as legal
assistance, intergovernmental networking, issues research, technical
information, and publications and public relations empower municipal officials
to become better community leaders.
CONFERENCES AND CONVENTIONS
Each summer, LMA conducts its most important and prestigious meeting, the
annual convention (usually the second weekend of August), filled with workshops,
exhibits, and meetings for all municipal officials. Other conferences – an
annual legislative conference as well as meetings for newly elected municipal
officials, municipal clerks, and city attorneys – also are held.
ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP
Providing direction for all LMA programs and activities is an Executive Board
which consists of a president, first vice president, second vice president, ten
district vice presidents, five vice presidents at large, past presidents still
in municipal service, and municipal professionals who lead officially recognized
affiliate organizations. This governing body meets several times each year to
establish policy for LMA operations and activities.
The executive director and an excellent staff of professional and support
personnel work to implement the Board’s policies and fulfill the Association’s
administrative and office responsibilities. LMA’s staff possesses a broad range
of legal, research, tax, communications, accounting, and office administration
expertise, which work to promptly provide assistance to every municipal official
who contacts our office for help.
LMA’s headquarters in Baton Rouge, depicted above, reflects well the
Association’s significant history and invaluable contributions to municipal
governments. This spacious and functional facility will enable LMA to expand to
further address the needs of Louisiana’s municipal governments as the
achievements of the 1990’s pave the way to greater progress in the next century.
For more information, contact:
Mr. Tom Ed McHugh, Executive Director
Louisiana Municipal Association
700 North 10th Street, suite 400
Post Office Box 4327
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-4327
(225) 344-5001
(800) 234-8274
FAX: (225) 344-3057