Alabama Municipal Officials Celebrate 30th Anniversary of Nation's Second Oldest Training Program

September 23, 2024 - MONTGOMERY – This week, the Alabama League of Municipalities is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Certified Municipal Official (CMO) program. In 1994, the League launched its voluntary CMO program under the leadership of its former executive director, Perry Roquemore Jr., making it the second oldest elected municipal official training program in the country.

The first session of the CMO program was held at the Adams Mark Hotel in Mobile on September 22, 1994. Nearly 200 officials enrolled in the program that year.

"We are extremely proud of how the Certified Municipal Official program has evolved over the past three decades from offering the basic designation to an Advanced CMO and CMO Emeritus designation," ALM Executive Director Greg Cochran said. "The success of this program is a reflection of our organization's continued commitment to providing municipal officials with the necessary skills and resources to strengthen their leadership knowledge and cultivate vibrant communities."

The CMO program has grown to provide training in several formats each year including in-person multiday conferences, one day regional trainings and online training to teach the fundamentals of local government and share policy updates and resources.

Municipal officials have the incentive of obtaining three different levels of CMO certification after completing 40, 80 and 120 credit hours of training as well as graduating. ALM also offers a Certified Municipality Achievement Award, which recognizes cities and towns where the mayor and all councilmembers have earned the professional designation of Certified Municipal Official within the same year. The League has had more than 5,000 officials engage in the program since it was established and has presented 63 Certified Municipality Achievement Awards since creating the honor in 2018.

"Back in 1986, when I became executive director of the League, I noticed there were all kinds of training programs for municipal clerks, administrators and revenue officers but nothing for elected municipal officials. Following in Georgia's footsteps, we created the Certified Municipal Official program to develop quality leaders," Roquemore said. "This program has exceeded every expectation and has helped our CMO graduates elevate their communities and serve in higher leadership positions from the state to the national level."

During the 2024 Legislative Session, Sen. Jabo Waggoner and Rep. Jim Hill, introduced legislation to the Alabama Legislature in 2024 to expand the CMO program from a voluntary program to mandated training. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the Alabama Municipal Official Training Act into law on May 3, 2024.

The act specifically requires mayors and councilmembers to complete 10 hours of training annually, provided by ALM, during their first term in office. All elected local officials will be required to receive five hours of training credits annually after receiving the 40 hours required for ALM's basic CMO certification.

Examples of courses the training provides include: the general powers of municipalities; duties of the mayor and council; ethics; annexations; authority to expend municipal funds; parliamentary procedure; conflicts of interests; legislative advocacy; liability; public records; police and planning jurisdiction; public works bidding; revenue sources; the competitive bid law; budgeting; audit requirements; the public purpose doctrine; the Open Meetings Act; municipal boards and zoning.

The League will host a graduation ceremony honoring all designations of the CMO program on October 30 in Orange Beach at Perdido Beach Resort. More than 100 officials, representing various cities and towns across Alabama, are expected to graduate.

The act takes effect January 1, 2025.

About ALM:

The Alabama League of Municipalities is a nonpartisan membership association of over 450 incorporated cities and towns. Since 1935, the League has worked to strengthen municipal government through advocacy, training and the advancement of effective local leadership. As the recognized voice of Alabama's cities and towns, the League's member municipalities benefit from a variety of member programs, services and activities that are impossible to accomplish alone. Learn more at almonline.org.