4 Key Takeaways From ENGAGE 2026 For Improving Local Government

ENGAGE 2026 delivered real value to public administrators. Over 1,400 customers showed up for practical insights, hands-on training, and peer networking. They left with ideas and skills that could be applied immediately.

This year’s sessions provided real-world strategies for local government leaders. Topics included managing upwards, emerging trends in local gov, workforce realities, and the future state of AI. These lessons challenged old assumptions and explored new solutions. They reinforced the importance of continued progress.

Keep reading to discover four standout sessions from ENGAGE 2026 that can be used as a playbook for improving operations and delivering hero-grade service to your community.

Session 1: Public Administration Keynote

ENGAGE opened with an energizing Public Administration keynote from Lori Wood, Vice President of Product Management at CentralSquare. She spoke directly to the challenges facing public administrators in 2026:

• Staffing shortages
• Reduced budgets
• Rising expectations
• Aging technology

“I see these challenges. We see them. And that’s why today is not about telling you what we’re going to do. It’s about showing you the future we’re building with you and for your communities.”

— Lori Wood

Lori then connected the dots with a live demo of CentralSquare’s citizen-facing solutions. She demonstrated how Citizen Portal, Utility Billing, Community Development, Property Tax, and Payments come together to provide a single portal for every service. It’s yet another way that agencies can deliver hero-grade experiences to residents without adding strain to internal teams.

She also announced NaviLine Impact. CentralSquare’s new municipal operations platform unifies cloud performance, intelligent automation, and intuitive citizen experiences. Paired with the Centerline AI Assistant, administrators can search permit applications, project summaries, billing data, and other records in real time using plain language. The result is less time searching, faster responses to residents, and a modern service experience built for the realities of local government.

Finally, Lori welcomed public administration customers to the stage, including Vicky Carlsen (Sammamish, WA), Scott Messick (Easton, MD), Bob Elliott (Winchester, VA), and Alex Patton (Tavares, FL). They had a candid conversation about technology—where it makes the biggest difference, how real-time data supports collaboration, and real-life stories of positive impact.

Session 2: Fireside Chat: Local Government Trends

Technology helps local governments become more efficient, connected, and productive, but not all solutions are created equal. With this in mind, public administrators have an important question to answer: How do you stay on top of the trends impacting infrastructure, citizen experience, and community development without chasing every headline?

That was the focus of the Fireside Chat: Local Government Trends, moderated by Justin Murphy, Director of Customer Operations at CentralSquare. Murphy tackled this question with several panelists, including:

• Bob Elliott – Applications & Project Manager, Winchester, VA
• Nicole Guttridge – Chief Information Officer, Elk Grove, CA
• Brandon McCullough – Business Systems Analyst, Gresham, OR

The conversation was grounded in what agencies are actually doing, not just what they’re discussing. Three themes stood out.

First, artificial intelligence. All three agencies have moved past “watching and waiting.” They are building policy and starting to deploy, with a clear emphasis on governance guardrails and transparency when something is AI-generated.

Second, budgets. With COVID-era funding drying up, panelists emphasized cost-avoidance and revenue impact as better ways to justify software investments. They discussed how to avoid getting caught flat-footed when funding disappears.

Third, the workforce. Long-tenured staff are retiring and taking decades of institutional knowledge with them. All three panelists are rethinking workflows (how they’re built) and software (how it’s learned). They recognize the need for more intuitive tools and in-house training that accounts for churn. You can’t assume the same person will still be doing the job in 20 years.

Session 3: Finance Enterprise: What’s New & What’s Next

Built for the needs of the public sector, Finance Enterprise is CentralSquare’s accounting software. It supports the financial backbone of local government—where accuracy, compliance, and transparency are non-negotiable.

In this session, presenters shared updates on CentralSquare’s AWS cloud journey, new opportunities available through strategic partnerships, and ongoing upgrades to core functionality. They also highlighted how integrations across CentralSquare’s portfolio are helping finance teams work with fewer handoffs and better visibility across departments.

Thanks to customer feedback, CentralSquare has some exciting product updates coming in 2026:

• Enabling mass movement of clients into AWS environments, making cloud implementations easier than ever.
• “Ask AI” implementation, powered by Centerline AI, for instant answers to your questions.
• Enhanced product security to protect sensitive data and strengthen back-end resilience.

You asked. We listened. In 2026, CentralSquare is committed to more cloud readiness, AI-powered guidance, and stronger security for the systems your community relies on.

Session 4: The Current and Future State of AI in the Public Sector

AI is moving fast in the public sector. For many administrators, it feels like the conversation shifts every month, and the pressure to “keep up” increases along with citizen expectations.

This session focused on how local governments can adopt AI without losing the human side of public service. The truth is, residents still want a personal experience, even as agencies modernize. Panelists emphasized that AI works best when it supports staff, instead of replacing relationships.

One example was the role of AI Assistants. When an assistant can answer questions in plain language or help staff locate billing history, permit applications, and critical records, teams spend less time digging and more time serving. That creates space for your team to build long-term relationships with residents and focus on high-impact tasks.

The data shows AI use is already rising fast. According to a Q4 2025 study, 43% of public sector employees reported using AI at least a few times per year—including 21% who use it daily or multiple times per week. That number is up 28% from a study conducted in Q2 2024.

The takeaway from the session was obvious. Stay informed, build governance early, and modernize workflows now so your community is positioned for long-term success.

Turning Ideas Into Action

ENGAGE 2026 made one thing clear for public administrators. The pressure is real, but progress is possible when strategy and execution are aligned.

Across these four sessions, the themes were consistent. Local government leaders need:

• Modern citizen-facing services that reduce friction.
• Finance systems that are more cloud-ready, more secure, and easier to support.
• Workforce planning that accounts for churn and changing expectations.
• An AI approach that is governed, transparent, and focused on helping staff serve residents better.

If you’re looking for a practical path forward, these sessions offer it. Use them as a starting point for your 2026 priorities, and keep the momentum going back at your agency.

Want to set your team up for success next year? Save the date for ENGAGE 2027. We’ll be in Las Vegas, NV, April 18–21. Add it to your calendar now so you’re ready when registration details go live.