BARS Coding Basics 2026: University Place

REGISTER

Registration closes on Friday, August 14 at 5 PM. Lunch will be provided. If you have any questions, please contact ‘Ula Kamaka (UKamaka@mrsc.org). 

Additional BARS Coding Basics sessions are tentatively scheduled for Spokane Valley in May 2027 and Wenatchee in June 2027.

Training Overview

If you're new to local government finance or accounting in Washington State, the BARS (Budgeting, Accounting, and Reporting System) can seem complex and intimidating. That’s why MRSC developed this hands-on, interactive training on the basics of BARS coding, designed specifically for beginners. Through a combination of one-on-one guidance, group activities, and practical exercises, participants will learn how BARS codes are structured and how to confidently identify and apply the correct codes in real-world scenarios. 

Educational Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the different types of funds used in local government
• Navigate the structure of funds, revenues, and expenditures
• Identify and classify various revenue and expenditure types
• Apply object codes appropriately
• Use tips and tools to efficiently search the BARS Manual

Who Should Attend?

This introductory course is intended for individuals who are new to BARS coding and local government finance in Washington State. 

Presenters

• Eric Lowell, Finance Consultant, MRSC. Eric Lowell joined MRSC in December 2020 as a Finance Consultant after working in local finance for over 14 years. He has worked for a local city and a special purpose district in Washington. Eric has experience as an accounts payable clerk, payroll clerk, finance analyst, finance supervisor, and a finance director. At MRSC, Eric provides guidance to local government on various financial issues.
• Cheryl Grant, Finance Consultant, MRSC. Cheryl joined MRSC in August 2023 as a finance consultant. Cheryl has many years of experience working in local government finance, particularly with small cities. Prior to coming to MRSC, Cheryl spent 13 years as the finance director for the City of Chelan, as well as consulting on a variety of finance-related topics for small cities.

Credits

This training is eligible for:

• 6.0 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit from the Washington State Board of Accountancy for certified public accountants.

Payment Policy: Payment for this training is completed online by card. If you need to be billed to pay offline, there will be a $5.00 administrative fee added to the total cost of registration. Please contact Ula Kamaka (UKamaka@mrsc.org) if you would like to request an invoice for this training.

Refund Policy: Refunds will be provided minus a 5% administrative fee until the registration deadline on Friday, May 15 at 5 PM. No refunds for cancelations or no-shows after the registration deadline. Please contact Ula Kamaka (UKamaka@mrsc.org) if you need to request a refund.