The most simplified list of your treasurer duties is:Receive ALL of the local’s money and deposit it all in a bankOversee, pay, and track all of the local’s expensesReport financial activity to your board monthly, with written financial reports that are included in the monthly meeting minutesFile required annual reporting forms: Surety Bond, LUAFR, and Tax form (990-N, 990-EZ or 990). Locals with any non-government/private-sector employees must also file LM (Labor Management) forms.

You can open your account at most banks or credit unions, as long as they can offer three things: - FDIC or NCUA insurance (standard for nearly all banks and credit unions) - Two-signer checks (all checks MUST be signed by two officers) - Canceled check images. Some banks charge extra for this, and some do not offer it at all, so be sure to check this. ** Note – ATM or Bank Debit cards CANNOT be used under any circumstances. If you are issued a card, it must be destroyed. See Appendix E in the Financial Standards Code.

Maybe. But, maybe not! You should use the financial accounting system that will BEST allow you to create, maintain, and share accurate financial records and reports. Some locals will need a robust software, especially if you are running payroll (for board members), have multiple bank accounts, and/or if you are working with a tax professional to file the 990-EZ or 990 tax forms (both of which require more complex financial reporting). Some locals can use something simpler, like an Excel spreadsheet. Whatever you use, you should feel pretty comfortable using it.

3/1 - Surety Bond, due March 1st every year5/15 - LUAFR (Local Union Annual Financial Report), due May 15th every year5/15 - Tax form (990-N, 990-EZ or 990), generally due May 15th every year. You can get an automatic 6 month extension to file your tax return. 3/31 - Locals with any private-sector employees (including private business, non-profit, and community organizations – generally anyone who is NOT a government employee) must also file LM (Labor Management) forms. These are due March 31st every year.

Can you? Technically, yes. However, it MUST be done through formal payroll, with all required withholding, reporting, and compliance that includes. You cannot give board members a “stipend” that is a set amount, and just issue a form 1099 at the end of the year. The compliance requirements for running payroll in Oregon can be extensive and expensive! Even if you are only paying folks a small amount, and even if you don’t pay them often. You will need a payroll service (annual cost: ~$360 - $800), an Oregon-compliant retirement plan (OregonSaves is probably the simplest and cheapest option), and a workers compensation policy at a bare minimum.See Training Topics for more information on setting up and running payroll.

Your own local's trustees should be performing an audit annually. If you've never done this, don't worry, just start now! You can see the info sheet on Local Audits, and review the "Audits" section of the Financial Standards Code, for more information on audits. You're also welcome to contact Oregon AFSCME's Fiscal Trainer for help in navigating the audit process.Council 75 also selects locals to audit throughout the year. To request an audit, email trustee1@oregonafscme.org,

If the Council 75 trustees are performing your audit, you will receive a date and time for the meeting, and a list of what documents to bring with you. You will need to bring all financial records in whatever for you have them – electronic, paper, or both. Audits are designed to help you make sure you are operating according to the AFSCME requirements. The auditors are on your team! You will work together with them to go over how your local runs all of the financial operations, including record-keeping, reporting, and compliance and find answers to any questions you have as the treasurer. Audits are not designed to be punitive in any way, and the goal is to help you find any issues so that you can correct them.

Yes. The Financial Standards Code does not have specific rules on the types of investments that are permitted, beyond the reminder that officers and employees have a duty to manage the local’s funds prudently, and that unnecessary risk should be avoided. Each local should have an investment policy that is approved by the Board if they wish to keep funds in anything other than federally insured accounts at banks or credit unions (e.g., investment options beyond savings/money market accounts, or Certificates of Deposit (CDs)). If you’re interested in any sort of investment that has the potential for loss, you MUST ensure that the Board has a written investment plan to detail this, and that all investments are closely monitored.

This is a one-day training that is offered by AFSCME International. This training, conducted by an auditor from our International Union, is a resource for anyone who oversees union finances. It is recommended that treasurers, presidents, trustees, and check signers attend if possible. Local presidents and treasurers should attend every two years. It’s generally offered twice per year: once in person, and once virtually.Sign up to be notified about upcoming trainings here.

This process will vary depending on the needs of your local. There are some excellent resources that can help you think about this process:Propel Nonprofit Budget & Allocation Template and Resource10-Step Budgeting ChecklistNonprofit Finance Fund Budgeting Best PracticesBasic Budgeting Concepts (Video)

This happens a lot more than you might think! The good news is that it’s fixable. The bad news is that many banks have slightly different requirements and procedures to regain access to your funds. Generally, most banks will want to see some combination of the following:An up-to-date registration with the Oregon Secretary of State, showing the current officers/signers. (If you need to set this up, you can check out this how-to video, or the info sheet linked here.) Recent meeting minutes showing the approval of the new officers/signers, and, possibly the removal of the old signers. A letter on AFSCME letterhead from Council 75 (Contact Fiscal Trainer Irena Solomon (isolomon@oregonafscme.org), or the Council 75 finance office to obtain this letter).

The LUAFR, or Local Union Annual Financial Report, is a 4-page PDF that all locals must submit to the International Union every year. It asks questions about your finances - income, expenses, assets, and liabilities - and some questions about your general operations. It's a good snapshot of your local that can help the IU determine if your are operating correctly or if there are places your local may need some extra support.This is due each year on May 15th, and can be submitted on the AFSCME Treasurer Website.

All locals must complete this short form annually and submit it to the International Union so that they can issue you a surety bond, which is an insurance policy that can protect your local from certain types of theft and fraud.This is due on March 31st each year, and can be submitted on the AFSCME Treasurer Website.

Any local that has members who are employed by a private sector (non-government) employer is required to file reports with the Department of Labor. The form must be signed by 2 officers, and each officer needs to have their own online account to sign and submit the form.This is due annually, on March 31st.It asks for some information on your finances, your board and officers, and the kinds of compensation your local pays. Your annual revenue determines which form you are required to file; larger locals will be required to submit more detailed and extensive information. Submit the forms on the DOL’s Office of Labor-Management Standards EFS website.

Yes, you must file a tax return for your local every year. This is usually due May 15th. If you don’t, you risk having your non-profit status revoked by the IRS! Smaller locals, with annual revenue of less than $50,000, can file the super-easy 990-N “e-postcard”. If your annual revenue is $50,000 or more, you will probably want to work with a tax professional to file a form 990-EZ, or 990. If you can’t make the 5/15 deadline, 990-EZ and 990 filers can have their tax pro request an automatic 6 month extension, giving you until November 15th. See details of each form, including a how-to-file video, on the Training Topics page.

IRS Form 990-T is a tax form that is required if your affiliate is involved in taxable activities.

Coming soon! For help, you can reach out to the Fiscal Trainer.

When your local was first created, you almost certainly applied for an EIN, or Employer Identification Number with the IRS. They issue this number to your local in a letter called a CP575. If you no longer have this, or can't find it, there are a few ways to track the number down:Ask your Fiscal Trainer, or the Coucil 75 finance department. Search the IRS Exempt Organization database using your local's name (caution! Many locals have the same first words: "Americal Federation of State County and Municipal Employees", so it can be hard to sort through the name results that might come up!). Ask the International Union. Call the IRS business line. Typical wait times are 15 - 60 minutes.

Lost time is a payment made to an officer or member as compensation for taking uncompensated leave from their job to perform union duties. Lost time is considered to be payment of wages. Taxes must be withheld and payroll tax forms must be filed for all lost time payments.

It's not strictly required for your local to operate, but most banks these days will require you to register in order to open and operate a bank account for your local.If your local has registered with the Oregon Secretary of State, this is public record and can be accessed by searching the SOS website. You can search by organization/entity name, and by the name of associated individuals. If you have not registered your local, you can do this by following these instructions. Remember that you need to register as an "Assumed Business Name" and not a non-profit or other type of entity.