MuniNet Guide Archive
Election Sites Help Voters Prepare for – and Follow – State Primaries
Super Tuesday will find voters in more than twenty states heading to the polls … See our picks for the best election coverage and related news.
Student-Teacher Ratio: Is Smaller Always Better?
Low student-teacher ratios can benefit students, particularly in the earlier grades. MuniNetGuide.com now provides student-teacher ratios for all schools in its enhanced database.
City Finances Likely to Feel the Crunch of Mortgage Crisis
“A municipality’s ability to diversify its tax base is perhaps the greatest factor in determining the impact of the real estate market on its financial condition,†says Michael Pagano, Ph.D., Professor and Interim Dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Job Creation Fuels Nevada Population Growth
Nevada returns to the number one spot in terms of population growth, with a 2.9 percent increase from 2006-2007. Tourism continues to play a huge role in Nevada’s economy, with continued gains in the hotel and gaming industry.
Online Resources Help Make – and Keep – New Year’s Resolutions
Want to lose weight, find a new job, reduce stress, or give more to charity in 2008? Visit these online resources designed to help you make – and keep – your New Year’s resolutions in the coming year.
“Be Fit” Initiative Encourages Healthy Diet, Exercise for County Residents
Westchester County has long stood out among its peers for offering many “citizen-friendly†programs, tools and resources. The BeFit initiative focuses on healthy habits to keep obesity and related chronic illnesses at bay.
MuniNet Publisher Earns SMITHs Lifetime Achievement Award
Richard Ciccarone, publisher and founder of Muni Net Guide.com, was recently honored with the 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award by SMITH’s Research & Gradings
Packers’ Lambeau Field Boosts Green Bay Economy
While the economic impact of most stadiums and sporting events is unimpressive, this relatively small Wisconsin city enjoys many benefits from Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packers.
Suburban Sprawl in Chicago Extends Further
As homeowners seek ways to buy “more house for the money,†the trend to move further out from urban areas – to outer ring suburbs and beyond – continues.
“Feeling Heard” a Key Factor in Citizen Participation
A key factor in encouraging citizens to get – and stay – involved in their local government is to listen to their ideas and concerns.
States Poised to Withstand Economic Challenges
The overall credit trend for states is stable despite a general slowdown in the national economy, according to Robert Kurtter of Moody’s Investors Service.
Georgia Water Woes: Drought Leads to Widespread Water Shortages
Water shortages are threatening several regions around the country. Georgia has now declared Drought Level 4 conditions for all counties in the northern part of the state.
“Buy California Bonds” Site Reaches Out to Investors
The CTO approaches its investor relations for municipal bonds in a manner similar to corporate offerings. Its “Buy California Bonds†page encourages residents to invest in state infrastructure projects.
New York City Schools Receive Urban Education Award
School reforms in New York City lead to improvement in reading and math scores and a narrowing in achievement gaps among students.
MuniNet Celebrates Ten Years
Municipal bonds, state and local government, demographics, economic research … Pointing readers to the most helpful, notable and interesting web sites in these areas of has always been a number one goal of MuniNet Guide, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.
Trend Points to Neighborhood Privatization
The increasing prevalence of community associations has the potential to change the structure of local government in the U.S., as discussed in this interview with Robert H. Nelson of the University of MD.
Katrina – Two Years Later: Recovery in New Orleans Continues
New Orleans has bounced back, but the area may have reached an economic plateau, also marked by shifts in local demographics. See sidebar article for info on New Orleans’ changing socio-economic makeup.
Youngstown: Demolishing its Way Toward Tomorrow
Youngstown is planning for its future as a smaller, but more prosperous city.
City Web Site Invites “Two-Way Conversation”
Whether to aid in the city planning process or just for fun, the City of Rocklin’s online polls invite city residents to share their opinions. And that’s only the beginning …
Census Web Site Highlights Business Trends
New web site from the U.S. Census Bureau is a great resource for industry-specific data across the country – or for a specific state or metro area. Don’t miss this one!
Flight Delays “Soaring” Across U.S.
Flight delays – both arrivals and departures – have reached highest levels in over a decade, according to recent reports issued by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
Crains Spotlights Chicagos Demographics, Economy, and Lifestyle
Not your average newspaper supplement … Crain’s Market Facts provides statistics, videos, interactive maps and more for the Chicago area.
Infrastructure Safety Likely to Become Priority in Wake of Bridge Collapse
The viability of the nation’s bridges, overpasses, and other infrastructure is likely to be called into question by the tragic collapse of the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis.
Bayshore Town Center: The “New” Downtown
Bayshore Town Center – located in Glendale, Wisconsin – recently underwent a major transformation from an average mall to an impressive “suburban downtown.â€
Mayor Uses Blog as Powerful Tool to Communicate with Residents
Round Lake Mayor says starting a blog is the smartest thing he’s done as mayor. Visit his blog and you’ll see why!