MuniNet Guide Archive
Record Month for State Revenues in California
Apparently, April was a good month for the state of California, which took in a record $11.3 billion in income tax collections. Now lawmakers are trying to decide how to best use this money.
Massachusetts Pioneers Universal Healthcare Coverage Legislation
Massachusetts is the first state to pass a universal health care coverage law, but others may be following suit.
Online Services Increase Convenience for L.A. County Jurors
The Los Angeles Superior Court web site helps decrease the intimidation factor many people feel when they receive a summons to serve on a jury by offering a variety of information and tools for jurors. The Court recently added online services that allow jurors to postpone their service or receive reporting information – and more are in the works.
Government Watchdog Groups Weigh New Orleans Options for Municipal Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy should be considered one possble option – to be evaluated along with other alternatives – for the City of New Orleans and other Louisiana communities facing fiscal distress, according to a study released by two local public policy organizations.
Warm Weather States Top National Migration Destinations
Domestic net migration is an important trend to watch as an indicator of regional, state and local economic health. The U.S. Census Bureau recently released its report on domestic migration for the period 2000-2004.
Detroit Mayor Calls for Lower Salaries for City Employees
Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is asking municipal employees to take a pay cut and contribute more to their health care as part of his plan to reduce the city’s budget deficit. Things continue to get tougher in a city already facing serious financial challenges.
New Dallas Web Site Easier to Navigate, Offers Enhanced Service Delivery
Dallas recently launched a “new and improved” version of its city web site. The redesigned site features more intuitive organization, more emphasis on city news and events, and easier access to online services.
FDIC Profiles Provide Quarterly Snapshot of State Economies
Looking for updated state and regional state economic data and commentary? The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) publishes quarterly profiles that include statistics, analysis and trends in state demographics, housing, labor force and banking data and more.
Sheriffs E-Mail Alert System Keeps Will County Residents Informed
The Will County, Illinois Sheriff’s Office recently launched an innovative service that sends an email message to registered users when a crime, traffic incident, or other public safety issue occurs. Residents ?and anyone else who signs up for the free service – can specify the types of alerts they want to receive, and can also indicate their towns or villages of interest in their user profile.
Downturn in Auto Industry Impacts Michigan Employment
Louisiana and Michigan were the only two states with a decline in employment between February 2005 and February 2006, according to a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics news release. Nevada, Idaho, and Arizona showed the greatest annual percentage gains in employment for the year.
San Francisco Earthquake – 100 Years Later
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of “The Great San Francisco Earthquake” – on April 18, 1906 – the U.S. Census Bureau has published a special report comparing the changes in the city’s demographics.
Live Help Enhances Customer Service Orientation of State Web Site
In an effort to help online visitors increase the ease and efficiency in using its web site, the state of Colorado recently introduced a “live help” feature. Visitors to the site can have an online conversation with a state employee who functions, in many ways, like a customer service representative.
Striving for Online Excellence – Part 2: Characteristics
Reader appeal, freshness of content, and ease of navigation are among the characteristics of today’s best municipal web sites. This second installment in MuniNet Guide’s “Striving for Online Excellence” three-part series examines the qualities of top-notch state, county and local government sites.
Health Care Mapping Site Can Zero in on Hospital Market Area
HRSA provides an interactive search tool that provides geographic data for a hospital or clinic market service area. Users can customize a search for a state, county, or metro area to view data on healthcare systems, demographics, federal programs and infrastructure.
Flagler County Leads the Nation in Population Growth
According to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates released today, nine of the ten fastest growing counties between 2004 and 2005 are located in the South or West regions of the country. For the second year in a row, Flagler County, Florida claimed the number one spot in the ranking, which compares annual percentage gains in population.
Indiana Toll Road on Verge of Going Private
Indiana is in the final stages of considering the privatization of the Indiana Toll Road. The privatization of public infrastructure is emerging as a trend in many parts of the country.
Sunshine Week Promotes Open Government
Greater citizen access to government information is the theme of Sunshine Week, which will take place the week of March 12-18. The Sunshine Week web site includes “Bright Ideas†– examples of articles, ads, and more designed to promote openness in government.
Philadelphia Set to Become Nation’s Largest Wi-Fi Hotspot
After signing an agreement with Earthlink, Philadelphia will begin to move forward with its plans to provide wireless Internet access throughout the city. This will make Philadelphia the host of the largest citywide wireless – or wi-fi – network in the country to date. Other cities developing or considering similar plans are Chicago, San Francisco and Tempe.
Stressbusters Galore – and More! FMC Offers Valuable Lifestyle Management Tips
Lowering stress levels, sleeping better, and exercising are just a few of the wellness topics covered in Fairfield Medical Center’s (Lancaster, Ohio) self-improvment materials. Fairfield’s “Take Five” section on stress reduction offers more than 40 specific tips on how to relax, as well as some valuable life management strategies.
Premium Service Lets Users Search and Compare Municipal Ordinances Across State
Expanded search capabilities offered by Municipal Code Corporation allow for simultaneous searching through all (or some) codes and ordinances in a given state. This service makes it convenient to find the norm and/or compare one municipality’s zoning laws, for example, with another’s – a tool that can come in handy when developing or revising local ordinances.
Proposed Universal Preschool Program in California Sparks Cost? Benefit Debate Among Public Policy Think Tanks
California voters will be asked to approve a $2.4 billion universal preschool initiative on the ballot this June. The Reason Foundation, a non-profit think tank group, recently published a policy brief contending that the per-pupil cost of this proposal is too high, and that the state would be better off redistributing funds already designates for preschool programs.
Big Dig Spurs Economic Development in Boston
One of the biggest infrastructure financing deals in the U.S., the “Big Dig” – recently completed after 14 years of construction – is fueling economic development and revitalization in and around Boston. The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority recently released a comprehensive report detailing the impact of the project on the area’s transportation and economy.
Try Your Hand at President for the Day
National Geographic’s “Inside the White House” allows visitors to learn more about the White House, and even try their hand at being President for the day!
Is the South Florida Housing Boom Ending?
A Miami Herald study predicts an end to South Florida’s housing “explosion”. While prices may continue to rise, they will do so at a slower pace than the past few years. One particularly vulnerable sector of the market is condos.
GASB Drafts Requirements for Financial Reporting of Pollution Controls
The Governmental Accouting Standards Board recently released a draft setting forth requirements for financial reporting of pollution control measures. The proposal lists five situations in which a government would need to include accounting for pollution remediation.