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MRSC FOCUS › Focus - December 2001
 

Note: Some of the information on this archival Web page may no longer be current.

Focus - December 2001

County Highlights of Governor's 2002 Supplemental Budget

A new spreadsheet document, "County Related Highlights of Governor's 2002 Supplemental Budget" provides a WSAC/WACO/WAPA overview of the Governor's proposed operating budget. This does not include capital or transportation. More details are available on the "Budget" page of the state office of financial management's web site. (December 20)

New Web Page - Levy Lid Lift

With the passage of Initiative 747, one of the two ways for a jurisdiction to increase property taxes by more than one percent is to do a levy lid lift under RCW 84.55.050. Find out more on our new Levy Lid Lift page. (December 1)

Selling Surplus Property with Online Auctions

Some local governments are using online auctions to sell surplus property and are finding them to be more efficient and more effective in raising revenue than traditional auctions. More from Governing.com's Web site. (December 1)

Web Page Update - Pipeline Safety

We recently updated our Pipeline Safety Web page. It now includes documents from Bellingham and Whatcom County; an engineering assessment of the 16 inch Olympic Pipeline; and a list of gas and oil pipelines in Washington. (December 1)

Web Page Update - Grants

Our recently updated grants page includes information on grant writing, administration, job descriptions, federal and state grant resources,and selected MRSC Library holdings. (December 1)

Telecommunications Links for Attorneys

Several nationally prominent telecommunications lawyers have established web sites where you can get good information on current issues. These web sites are among the many telecommunications links listed on our telecommunications page:

(December 1)

Inquiry of the Week

This week's "Inquiry of the Week":

If there are two city council vacancies, must the council fill one first and then, with the newly-appointed member, fill the sEcond vacancy?

[Previous inquiries of the week]

Web Sightings - Maps and GIS

You'll find a wealth of information on maps and GIS on the Web. Here are some of our favorite sites:

(December 1)

Local Government Music Licensing Agreement - Amnesty Available until June 30

Most public performances of music by local governments require consent to avoid liability for damages and costs for infringing the writer/performer's copyright. Public performances can be as informal as playing a CD as background music at a public swimming pool. A new licensing agreement (Adobe Acrobat Document15 Kb), developed by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), in conjunction with the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA), enables government entities to perform music in public without liability for copyright infringement. Signing up for the license before June 30, 2002, provides amnesty for past infringement. More ... (November 30)

Cities May Face $11 Billion Revenue Loss

Two out of three American cities and towns (66 percent) say the slow down in their local Economies since September 11 has or will hurt their municipal revenues, according to a National League of Cities survey of 214 cities. More from NLC's Web site. (December 1)

State Forecasts $813 Million Reduction in Revenues

The Washington State Office of the Forecast Council issued its Preliminary November 2001 Forecast on November 20. It shows a reduction in estimated revenue for the 2001-2002 biennium of $813.1 million. For more see the Forecast Council's press release (Adobe Acrobat Document5 Kb) and home page. The Washington State Association of Counties has provided a summary of the forecast. (November 21)

Ashcroft Establishes Process to Share Anti-Terrorism Information

In a letter (Adobe Acrobat Document30 Kb) directed to county officials throughout the nation, Attorney General John Ashcroft has directed all U. S. attorneys to designate a chief information officer as the point person in developing communication protocols for sharing information with local elected officials on anti-terrorism activities. (December 1)

Terrorism and Emergency Preparedness Info from ICMA

The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) has assembled a concise collection of emergency readiness information -including citizens' guides, administrative manuals, disaster plans, Web sites, and other resources. More from ICMA's Web site. (December 1)

Budget Guide for Clallam County Residents

Clallam County's Citizens Guide to the County Budget explains basic concepts of how Clallam County government is financed, how the County accounts for its finances in order to meet its stewardship obligation over the public's money, and how the budget process works. (December 1)

Economic Development Online

Economic Development Online shows Economic development professionals how to develop effective web sites. The free service includes guidelines for developing content, layout and design. It also includes links to helpful articles and resources. (December 1)

First Digital Cities Survey Names Winners

The Center for Digital Government and Government Technology magazine, recently announced the winners of the 2001 Digital Cities Survey. The survey examined how city governments have progressed in using digital technologies to service delivery. More from the Center for Digital Government's Web site. (December 1)

Public Records Disclosure

Recent newspaper articles have raised issues concerning the adequacy of local government responses to requests for disclosure of public records. All city and county agencies should periodically review their public records policies and train employees who handle requests for public records. More ... (November 6)

OFM Paper Examines Economic Impacts of Boeing Layoffs

The state Office of Financial Management (OFM) has undertaken a preliminary examination of the state's revenue situation in the wake of the attacks in order to provide some idea how projected Boeing layoffs may affect the state Economy and state-government revenue. More... (November 8)

NACO Announces Seal of Good eGovernance Award Program

Recognizing best practices and innovation in the county-level eGovernance initiatives, NACo and the National Academy of Public Administration recently announced the first annual Seal of Good eGovernance Award Program. More from NACO's Web site. (December 1)

Washington City/County History Quiz

Jorgen Eliason, arriving from Fordefjord, Norway in the 1880s, originally founded this community. It got its first post office and school in 1886, a church in 1887, an orphans home in 1891, and a hotel in1892. A newspaper, telephone company, bank and codfish company were added in the early 1900's and incorporation followed in 1908. During the early years, water was the primary method of travel with supplies being brought from Seattle by rowboat and later by steamboat. The boats carried passengers and freight to and from the town and delivered farmers' produce to Pike Place Market in Seattle. Today it is a thriving and growing community that still reflects the influence of its original Scandinavian founders and that earned it the nickname "Little Norway." What city is it? And the answer is ~drum roll~ ... (December 4)

Selected New MRSC Library Materials

Browse through a selected list of new MRSC Library materials (listed by subject). The list includes new library books, videos, articles, government publications, and more.

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