Services

Define the decision. Then the work.

Start with the question your organization needs to resolve. We define each engagement in writing before work begins.

Local Governments State Government Regulated Enterprises

Local Governments

Cities, counties, utility districts, authorities, and other local government entities. Our utility work includes water, wastewater, and gas systems. The engagement defines which work products you receive.

Rate studies

Receive a rate recommendation with the analysis behind it and tables for board review.

We examine operating costs, capital needs, reserves, debt service, and customer impact for water, wastewater, and gas systems. We document the assumptions and explain the arithmetic behind the recommendation.

What you receive

A baseline of current rates, obligations, and operating pressures
Cost-of-service allocation with stated assumptions
Rate paths compared side by side, with customer impact shown
Tables and a plain-language explanation for board review

Feasibility studies

Receive projections and a finding on whether a project is financially workable, including any conditions the analysis identifies.

Before a board commits to a project, line extension, consolidation, or rate-funded capital program, we test the financial plan against the system's records and show how changes in growth, costs, or revenue affect the result.

What you receive

Stated assumptions based on available records
Revenue and cost projections across the financing period
Sensitivity analysis on the assumptions that change the result
A finding: workable, workable with conditions, or not workable

Finance office support

Receive budget preparation, fund reporting, and recurring filings under a defined scope, with a calendar of obligations and responsibilities.

We support financial work through the year and help work through audit findings, including the underlying process. Substantial one-time analyses have a separate scope.

What you receive

A budget prepared from your records for consideration and adoption
A calendar of recurring obligations with owners and dates
Fund reporting and required filings within the engagement's scope

Board and staff training

Receive sessions built around your financial reports and materials the board can keep and pass to its next members.

Training covers the documents commissioners, council members, and staff oversee: budgets, audits, rate studies, and monthly financial statements.

What you receive

Sessions using your own financial statements
Explanations of each report's purpose and warning signs
Guidance on board and staff responsibilities
Materials to retain for future board members

Grant support

Receive application preparation with financial exhibits, or post-award reporting and drawdown support, as defined in the engagement.

We identify potential programs and assess eligibility before recommending whether to apply. After an award, we support the reporting and drawdowns within the agreed scope.

What you receive

Potential programs matched to their eligibility requirements
A recommendation on whether to apply
Application preparation with required financial exhibits
Post-award reporting and drawdown support when included in the engagement

Legislative representation

Receive a documented position and briefing materials for policymakers, with advocacy within the agreed and permitted scope.

We represent a client's position before policymakers and advocate for outcomes affecting local governments and public utilities, where the jurisdiction permits and the engagement authorizes that work.

Representation begins only after applicable registration, authorization, and engagement requirements are satisfied.

What the work can include

A documented position and supporting facts
Briefings and materials for policymakers
Direct advocacy within the agreed and permitted scope

Legislative tracking

Receive plain-language summaries of bills and rule changes that may affect your operations, finances, or reporting.

We monitor items relevant to local governments and utilities and explain their potential effects. Tracking informs the client; it does not advocate a position.

What you receive

Session tracking on items relevant to your organization
Plain summaries of what a change would require
Notices of potential reporting and compliance changes

State Government

Departments, boards, commissions, and state-level authorities. Bring the decision, deadline, or question your organization faces. We can discuss the supporting work you need and whether it fits the firm's scope.

Discuss the scope

Regulated Enterprises

Organizations whose rates, filings, or operations are subject to regulatory review. Start with the decision and the records available. We can discuss the supporting work you need and whether it fits the firm's scope.

Discuss the scope

Boundaries

We define the work and its limits.

Grand Division Advisors provides decision consulting. It does not provide legal advice, audit or attestation opinions, engineering design or certifications, or bookkeeping of record, and it does not serve as a local government's finance officer of record.

Qualified professionals and governing bodies remain responsible for technical, legal, and official determinations. When the work requires one, we prepare supporting material without presenting it as a professional opinion or official determination.

Start a conversation

Discuss the work you need.

Call with your organization and your decision or deadline. We'll handle the rest.

423.585.7484