Focus Archive by Subject or Month | MRSC Updates by E-mail
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Hey, Big Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (Nov 25)
There are strong arguments to make that state and local governments need financial aid from Uncle Sam. More from Governing.
Ten Best Planning Books - 2009 (Nov 25)
Planetizen recently released their eighth annual list of the ten best books in the planning field with titles covering some of the most timely issues in planning.
Long-Term Budget Strategy Considerations
In this month's Finance Advisor column, Tracey Dunlap, Director of Finance & Administration, City of Kirkland, suggests that while future downturns cannot be avoided, they can be planned for by continuing to be prepared and pursuing conservative budget policies.
A Few Good Sets of 2006 RCWs Available from MRSC (Nov 13)
We've replaced our 2006 RCWs with new 2008 editions and have 12 complete sets of the old 2006 editions (along with the 2007 supplements) to give away. If your city hall or county courthouse could use a set of pre-owned 2006 RCWs, contact Erica Zwick, MRSC Technical Services Librarian, who will be happy to mail you a set, while our limited supply lasts.
For Sale: 200,000-Square-Foot Box (Nov 25)
What happens to big-box buildings when a retailer abandons them? More from Slate.
Zoning for Affordability (Nov 25)
One of the ways that local governments regulate residential development is through minimum lot size requirements. More from Breakthroughs.
Help the SAO Design their New Web Site (Nov 25)
The Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO) is revamping their Web site. They are asking citizens, audit clients and interested parties to to provide feedback on the usability of their existing Web site and suggestions for their new Web site.
Homeless Camps Increase Nationwide (Nov 25)
In January 2007, the nation's sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons numbered 671,888, according to a report released in April by the Washington-based National Coalition for the Homeless. More from American City & County.
Guidelines for Maximizing Training Efforts (Nov 25)
In any law enforcement agency, training can be the key contributor to the nurturing and development of a professional mind-set, self-awareness, and ethical values for both individual officers and the organization as a whole. More from The Police Chief.
GASB Involvement in Performance Measurement Runs into NACo Opposition (Nov 25)
At a Nov. 14 forum in Orlando, Fla. NACo voiced its continuing opposition to efforts by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) to issue standards or guidance on performance measurement. More from NACo's County News.
Web Sightings - Fiscal Crisis in Local Government (Nov 13)
This month we’ve selected a variety of articles addressing the fiscal crisis facing local governments in the fall of 2008.
Here are the latest local and national news clippings highlighting current events, trends and other news affecting Washington city and county governments and special districts:
Washington News links:
- Pierce County considers red-light cameras (Tacoma News Tribune, November 25, 2008)
- Tacoma schools will get on-duty cops (Tacoma News Tribune, November 24, 2008)
- Puyallup bucks budget trend (Tacoma News Tribune, November 24, 2008)
- LocalTougher state law means more Puget Sound burn bans (Seattle PI, November 24, 2008)
- County property owners will see tax bills increase in 2009; Commissioners declare financial emergency (Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, November 24, 2008)
- Washington cities can add $20 car tab fee (Seattle PI, November 24, 2008)
- Bainbridge change of government vote set for steep climb (Bainbridge Island Review, November 24, 2008)
- Cities set to tap reserve funds (Tacoma News Tribune, November 23, 2008)
- Economic reality: County lays off six in planning (Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, November 19, 2008)
Washington News Links by Subject or Month
National News Links:
- 'Green' efforts embrace poor (USA Today, November 24, 2008)
- Unable to Sell Homes, Elderly Forgo Move to Assisted Living (New York Times, November 21, 2008)
- Americans don't know civics (USA Today, November 21, 2008)
- Debating the Green Building Premium (New York Times, November 20, 2008)
- Sidewalk stanzas: A public arts project in St. Paul, Minn., inscribes poems on neighborhood sidewalks (Christian Science Monitor, November 18, 2008)
- Portland's low-income neighborhoods are city's 'food deserts' (The Oregonian, November 15, 2008)
- Bad air costing state's economy billions (San Francisco Chronicle, November 13, 2008)
National News Links by Subject or Month
Also in Focus
- Self-Reliant Cities - Energy and the Transformation of Urban America (Nov 20)
- Rethinking Police Training (Nov 20)
- Is The Mall Dead? (Nov 20)
- Vancouver Selected to Receive Technical Assistance on Afterschool Systems (Nov 20)
- Regional Fire Authority Implementation Guide (Nov 20)
- Broken Benefits Promises? (Nov 20)
- Testing the Waters (Nov 20)
- Smart City - Tall Buildings and Public Spaces (Nov 20)
- The Unofficial Role of the Administrator (Nov 20)
- New FMLA Rules (Nov 20)
- Citizen Call Center Report (Nov 13)
- No Significant Trends for County Issues this Election (Nov 13)
- Law Enforcement Leadership Development Program (Nov 13)
- Community Visioning and Strategic Planning Handbook (Nov 13)
- Local Services Feel the Squeeze (Nov 13)
- Green Strategies Spur Rebirth of American Cities (Nov 13)
- APPA Municipal Fiber Broadband Study (Nov 13)
- All Systems in Distress (Nov 13)
- New Identity Theft Red Flags Rules (Oct 2)