Description
Details
About
This course highlights revenue sources and finance mechanisms for capital improvements. Capital budgeting is explained and an overview of funding and review sources is provided. Full-faith and credit obligations and non-guaranteed debt instruments are discussed as methods to finance improvements. The course ends by describing impacts of capital improvements, which can be used to explain who the public benefits from projects.
Please note: While this course can be taken alone, we recommend that you take it as part of the more comprehensive Capital Improvement Program course of study. If you are taking the course outside of the certificate program, you will be assessed only via the multiple choice quiz. You are welcome to work on the portfolio assignment, but you will not be able to upload your assignment for individual feedback from our expert course instructors.
Course Schedule
This course is self-paced, allowing learners the flexibility to complete the course as quickly or slowly as they need. While exploring course content, learners can investigate topics in greater detail through enrichment activities that link to real-world examples, original source materials, and policy documents. Learners can easily move from section to section as they navigate through the course, revisiting concepts as needed.
Elements of the course:
- Informational text
- Interactive practice activities
- Learn More opportunities
- Supplemental reference materials
- Portfolio assignment (if taking as certificate program)
- Final assessment
After completing all course activities, you will complete a brief assessment to demonstrate your understanding of key course concepts. Upon successful completion of the assessment, you will be awarded a certificate of completion.
Course Chapters
- Introduction to Capital Budgeting and Finance
- Revenue and Funding Mechanisms
- Financing Capital Improvement Projects
- Gaining Support
Be able to:
- Explain the difference between operating and capital budgets.
- Describe the benefits of keeping operating and capital budgets separate.
- Identify existing and potential revenue sources.
- Define full-faith and credit financing options.
- Define non-guaranteed debt instruments.
- Prepare impact statement regarding capital improvements.
- Demonstrate outcomes if funding is not met.
- Implement a communication strategy to secure funding.
Recommended Background
The course will be most beneficial for those new to parks and public lands facility management or for those who wish to advance their career in this field. To complete the portfolio pieces successfully, it is recommended that you have access to a parks or public lands facility. Capital Improvement Program course of study.