Click here to skip to main content.
scenic picture from Washington state
MRSC FOCUS › MRSC Focus - January 1999
 

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

Focus - January 1999

Sign Our Guestbook

If you haven't had a chance to sign our guestbook yet, please take a minute to say hello and tell us what you think of our Web site. We appreciate the feedback and rely on your opinions to guide us in making improvements to this site.

Inquiry of the Week

This week's "Inquiry of the Week":

When may a city limit employment of spouses of current employees?

[Previous inquiries of the week]

Local Government Environmental Network (LGEAN)

The Local Government Environmental Network (LGEAN) is a "first-stop shop" providing environmental management, planning, and regulatory information for local government elected and appointed officials, managers and staff. The International City/County Management Association (ICMA), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and several other organizations, developed and manages the network. LGEAN is offering a free environmental planning CD-ROM for small communities (under 10,000). Larger local governments can get a copy of the software program free of charge by downloading it from an EPA Web site.

IRS Mileage Rate Lower in 1999

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reduced the mileage rate for business travel from 32.5 cents per mile to 31 cents, effective April 1, 1999. The reduction is based on lower fuel prices and slower auto depreciation rates. The 1998 rate of 32.5 cents will continue to apply through March of 1999.

It's Raining, it's Pouring and ...

Cities and counties are being sued for landslides and flooded property. Two recent Washington Supreme Court decisions address potential government liability for flood damage. More ...

LOCAL Program Info

Financing local government equipment needs through the State Treasurer's LOCAL program (Local Option Capital Asset Lending) is as easy as 1-2-3.

Local Government Finance Project

Anyone with access to the Internet now has a way to obtain timely, pertinent financial information on city and county governments through the Local Government Finance Project - State Auditor's Office January 4, 1999 press release.

Heads Up - Emerging Issues for Local Government

This issue of our "Heads Up" column focuses on some innovative programs around the Puget Sound region:

UBC Appendices

If you want to apply and enforce them ... you have to adopt them.

Year 2000 Update

Get the latest on MRSC's Y2K resources, including a new handbook available from our library, an upcoming AWC workshop, and a planned Y2K database.

Web Sightings

This month the focus is on personnel/employment law related Web sites:

Online Citizen Surveys and Feedback Forms

The Internet offers an easy and convenient way for local governments to gather citizen opinions about government services and community issues. Examples range from citizen surveys and quick opinion polls to simple feedback forms:

  • Citizen Survey - Mercer Island's online survey gauges satisfaction with city services and asks for feedback on city programs and activities.

  • Weekly Opinion Poll - The King County Executive's Office focuses on a single issue each week.

  • Comment Form - Visitors to Pierce County's site can direct comments or questions to any county department using a single feedback form.

Have We Missed Your Web Site?

We're collecting links to Washington city and county Web sites. Take a look at our list of links to make sure that we have one for your city or county's home page. If we don't have it, please E-mail us with the site address so we can add you to the list.

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.

Get MRSC Web Site Updates by E-mail

You can get a monthly e-mail notifying you of selected updates to MRSC's Web site by subscribing to the mrscweb mailing list (listserv). Simply type: subscribe mrscweb your name in the body of the message, and press "send" (leave the subject line blank). You may have your name removed from the list at any time by following the directions in the welcome message you will receive after subscribing.

Unlike most listservs, mrscweb is not a discussion list to which all subscribers may post messages, but a free subscription to a monthly notice updating you on major changes and additions to the MRSC Web site. If you have questions about this listserv, please contact Terri Sanders, MRSC Information Services Technician, at tsanders@mrsc.org.