A century of progress in government finance: 2006 Annual Conference recap.

• Position: News & Numbers - Conference news

The historic city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, served as the setting for GFOA's 100th Annual Conference. Approximately 6,000 people attended the three-day event held May 7-10 at the Palais des congres de Montreal.

The conference theme, "A Century of Progress in Government Finance," provided attendees with the opportunity to celebrate GFOA's one hundred years of service and to envision the future of the public finance profession.

GENERAL SESSIONS

This year's opening general session was unique as it included the largest gathering of GFOA past presidents. Twenty-one presidents from as early as 1973 were recognized for their service to GFOA.

Dr. Uwe Reinhardt

Dr. Uwe Reinhardt, leading expert on healthcare economics, policy, and reform addressed delegates as the keynote speaker at Monday's general session. Dr. Reinhardt has been a professor of political economics, public affairs, finance, and fund and governmental accounting at Princeton University since 1968.

Dr. Reinhardt delivered his presentation, "Sailing into the Perfect Storm: Who will Come to the Rescue?" with great animation to an audience eager to learn his insights into the healthcare industry. In his speech he focused on the sources of funding in healthcare, the correlation between healthcare and educational spending and variations within, and state and local government obligations in healthcare.

David Broder

On Tuesday, Pulitzer Prize winning Washington Post columnist David Broder spoke to GFOA members. Broder was delighted to celebrate the 100 years of GFOA and to exchange thoughts with professionals from state and local governments. Broder has served as a political columnist, author of several books, and commentator on CNN's "Inside Politics; NBC'S "Meet the Press" and "Washington Week in Review."

Broder shared his knowledge on timely issues such as the war in Iraq, immigration, healthcare costs, mid-term elections, gasoline prices, and the rapidly rising costs of energy. He professed hope in state and local governments to take action in resolving these issues. Broder closed the session with an interactive dialogue of questions and answers with the audience.

CONCURRENT SESSIONS AND DISCUSSION GROUPS

This year's sessions covered a wide range of subjects currently debated in the news today such as Sarbannes-Oxley, e-government, and OPEB accounting. Discussion group topics included debt management, technology and risk, wellness programs, internal control, and GFOA's Recommended...