The reporting deadline for American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) is April 30. Cities received their ARPA funds in several tranches in 2021 and 2022. Per statute, cities must report annually (or quarterly depending on the reporting tier) until 2027 or when Treasury initiates closeout for that specific city. […]
This week, Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a press release stating his office has requested financial documents and information from over 1,000 Texas cities related to the two most recent annual financial audits for the city and the corresponding financial statements. With the passage of S.B. 1851 during the 2025 legislative session, the attorney general […]
The League submitted written testimony to the House State Affairs Committee on its hearing on an interim charge relating to the development of data centers. The League urged the committee to include cities in any future advisory groups or working efforts related to the development of future data center policy. The committee heard invited testimony […]
The reporting deadline for American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) is April 30. The U.S. Department of Treasury will be offering a series of free webinars next week to provide key resources, guidance, and support to help with timely and accurate submissions. Each webinar will cover the following topics: […]
Jon is the director of finance for the City of San Marcos. For more than seven years, Locke was the executive director of finance for the City of Killeen. He has 18 years of financial leadership experience, including being city treasurer in the city of Big Rapids, Michigan, and as assistant director at Perry County Job & Family Services in Ohio.
Locke has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in business administration from Franklin University in Ohio. According to the release, Locke is a licensed certified public accountant and a certified government finance officer. He is a member of the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas, newly elected to the Board of Directors as the central representative, and serves on the Governmental Affairs Committee.
Blu received his Bachelor’s Degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and his Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.
Blu brings over 15 years of service and experience in both finance and operations roles, with 6 of those years in public sector finance for Bridgeport, Texas and Lubbock, Texas. In Lubbock, Blu also serves as a Board Member for the Lubbock Fire Pension Fund and as the Co-Chair of the Governmental Affairs Committee for GFOAT. Prior to transitioning to the public sector, Blu held roles in the private sector as a Manufacturing Plant Operations Manager for TAMKO Building Products and a Senior Financial Analyst for Lennox International.
Blu spent the first five years of his post-graduate career as an Armor and Calvary Officer in the United States Army, including a thirteen month deployment to Baghdad from 2008-2009. Throughout his service, Blu was awarded the Bronze Star and two Army Commendation Medals. Blu also received his Air Assault Badge and the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge.
Outside of work, Blu enjoys spending time with his wife, Callie, and his daughter Juliana.
Martie Simpson is the Executive Director for the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas. She started her municipal finance career with the City of Killeen in 1997 and finished her career with the city in 2014 as the executive director of finance. Martie served as the finance director for the City of New Braunfels from 2014 to 2018. Martie is a Certified Public Accountant with a degree from Baylor University and is a past president for GFOAT.
Administration, Membership, Conferences
Lavern Gaines
Administration, Membership, Conferences, CGFO
Jessica Skellenger
