Supporting Staff, Strengthening the Future in St. James

The town finished its conversion in April 2024. Haran shared that with the fiscal year ending in June, she made the decision to run parallel systems for the final two months of the year to avoid any issues from starting to use a new software system in the middle of the year. 

“I took it upon myself to do double the work for two months and it turns out I didn’t need to do that because [the transition to] Black Mountain was seamless,” Haran said. “Whether it was from the League or from the support from Black Mountain, … they really made sure that everything worked out well.”

Haran noted that while what the town’s residents received may not have looked different, the shift significantly improved her ability to work efficiently and plan ahead—saving time and reducing risk in ways that will benefit the town over time. Moving to a cloud-based system also ensures that financial records remain accessible in the event of a disaster.

“There was nothing that the town received from me that was different. What they did receive was a happier employee because it was much easier for me,” Haran said. “Now I have every single invoice because it’s all right there. These are the things I was trying to do to plan ahead for the town. So hopefully, in the future, the town will see the benefit of this new software.”

That focus on the future is what led Haran to explore this option. Knowing she would not manage the town’s finances forever, she wanted a system that would support the next finance director and serve the town well in the long term.

The League has followed local government workforce challenges for years, as municipalities continue to navigate ongoing recruitment, retention, and employee burnout concerns. Supporting staff in their day-to-day work—by implementing systems that help them feel confident, efficient and equipped to succeed—can make a meaningful difference not only in performance, but in overall employee experience and long-term retention.

While the American Rescue Plan Act funding that currently supports the MAS program is set to conclude in December 2026, the League’s MAS team remains focused on strengthening the employee experience in small towns. As future funding and program structure are evaluated, the importance and impact of this work continue to be clear. By helping communities establish secure financial systems and implement best practices, the program supports both current staff and those who will step into these roles in the future. St. James is one example of a town that has taken intentional steps to reduce day-to-day strain on staff and better prepare for what comes next, with support from the MAS team.

“At the end of the day, I am so pleased with everything that they did. I cannot speak any more highly than that,” Haran said. “I would do it again; I would advise any other municipality to do it. And I think that speaks for itself.”