SAFES

How to Use SAFES. This online training video assists with using the State Auditor's Form Entry System. When you click the link below, you will be brought to a web page with a video player. Click on the white triangle in the center of the player and the online training video will begin playing.

• How to Access and Use the State Auditor's Form Entry System (SAFES) (approximately 9 minutes)

Audit Practice Division

2025 Local Government Training Conference. State Auditor Julie Blaha plans to host training for those working with local government later this winter or spring. Subscribe to the OSA Weekly Update for future updates. When information is available, information will be included on the conference webpage.

Government Information Division

CTAS Training Materials. Instructional materials for the Small City and Town Accounting System (CTAS) are available as documents you can download to view or print and, in some cases, videos you can watch on your computer. Click here to be brought to the CTAS "Getting Started" webpage to find links to the documents and videos.

Pension Division

Pension/Fire Relief Association Instructional Videos. The Pension Division of the Office of the State Auditor (OSA) is pleased to offer online training videos for fire relief association (FRA) officers, board members, and auditors. View all instructional videos with the link below that were made to assist with the completion of annual reporting forms and to inform officials of their annual reporting requirements. The information and guidance in these videos is current as of the recording date. Subsequent law changes or other developments may affect their current applicability.

• Training Opportunities for Fire Relief Associations

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Division

Recorded Live Webinars:

• 2025 An Introduction to TIF - Held July 15, 2025

• 2025 TIF Administration for Authority staff - Held July 17, 2025

• 2025 County Administrators TIF Training - Held July 31, 2025 

• 2023 Changes to the TIF Act - Held September 27, 2023

Pre-Recorded Training Videos:

The Six-Year Rule. These videos and tool give an overview of the Six-Year Rule in the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Act and how to track compliance.

• The Six-Year Rule (approximately 19 minutes) 

• How to Monitor the Six-Year Rule (approximately 20 minutes) 

• The Six Year Rule Tracking Tool - Excel Spreadsheet 

Tax Increment Financing: A Primer for City Councils (& Other TIF Authorities). The TIF Division of the OSA has prepared a brief overview of key concepts and considerations for decisionmakers considering whether to approve the use of TIF.

• Tax Increment Financing: A Primer for City Councils (& Other TIF Authorities) (approximately 17 minutes)

TIF Video Instruction Series. The TIF Division of the OSA has prepared a series of training videos to assist with completing TIF forms.

• Completing the Pooled Debt Form (approximately 7 minutes)

• Completing the TIF Plan Collection Form (for Modified Districts) (approximately 6 minutes)

• Completing the TIF Plan Collection Form (for New Districts) (approximately 8 minutes)

TIF Annual Reporting Form Videos

• Part 1: Reporting Form Basics (approximately 7 minutes) 

• Part 2: The Overview and District Information Tabs (approximately 8 minutes) 

• Part 3: The Debt Tab (approximately 7 minutes)

• Part 4: The Interfund Loan Tab (approximately 9 minutes)

• Part 5: The Pay-As-You-Go Tab (approximately 9 minutes)

• Part 6: The Project Costs Tab (approximately 6 minutes)

• Part 7: The Transfers Tab (approximately 3 minutes)

• Part 8: The Revenues and Expenditures Tab (approximately 5 minutes)

• Part 9: The Balance Sheet Tab (approximately 3 minutes)

• Part 10: The Excess Increment Calculation Tab (approximately 4 minutes)

• Part 11: The Annual Disclosure Statement and Comments Tabs (approximately 4 minutes)

TIF Education Series. The TIF Division has prepared a series of videos with information and background on Tax Increment Financing.

• Creating TIF Districts: An Overview for TIF Authorities (approximately 25 minutes) 

• The History of TIF and Why It Matters (approximately 18 minutes)

• Introduction to Tax Increment Financing (approximately 7 minutes)

• TIF District Types (approximately 13 minutes)

• TIF Pooling (approximately 7 minutes)

• Excess Increments vs. Excess Taxes (approximately 8 minutes)

Past Webinars. Please click below to view videos from prior year trainings.

• 2024 An Introduction to TIF Training Webinar

• 2024 TIF Administration for Authority Staff Taining Webinar

• 2023  County Administrators Training Webinar

• 2023 An Introduction to TIF Training Webinar

• 2022 TIF Administration for Authority Staff Training Webinar