New & NoteworthyNew Municipal Web Sites, Features, Trends and Recent Discoveries
April-June 2006
Chicago Housing Authority Leads Nation in Voucher Purchases
HUD has released a new study on housing voucher programs around the country ... Chicago’s cutting-edge program has helped over 130 new homeowners with the purchase of a home, more than any other housing agency in the nation.... Continue
Bayshore Mall to Become Wisconsin’s First Town Center
Relecting a trend for mixed-use developments - where people live, work, shop and play - Bayshore Mall , located in a northern suburb of Milwaukee’s - is undergoing a major transformation.... Continue
Oregon Pilots Mileage-Tax Program
Oregon is testing a program that could replace its gas tax with a mileage-based fee system. Funds collected from the program would be used to finance road maintenance in the state.... Continue
California Posts Highest Number of Initial Claims for Mass Layoffs
Mass layoffs, one factor that contributes to state employment and unemployment trends, were highest in California for the month of May 2006. Temporary help services, food service contractors and the motion picture industry posted the largest initial claims for mass layoffs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.... Continue
Construction Begins on New DC Ballpark
The District of Columbia is moving forward with plans to build a new 41,000 seat ballpark for the Washington Nationals. The new park, to be financed primarily through municipal bonds, is the cornerstone of the Anacostia River Waterfront revitalization project.... Continue
Henry Ford Museum: A Dearborn Landmark and Historical Showcase
Summer is the perfect time to take a road trip to one of this country’s many unique, but lesser-known getaways. One example is the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village - a wonderful tourist destination for the family, offering a history showcase and living village of yesteryear.... Continue
Lafayette, Indiana’s “Nominate Your Neighbor” Program Spreads Goodwill, Encourages Beautification
Lafayette’s “Nominate Your Neighbor” initiative will recognize homeowners who do an outstanding job on the upkeep and maintenance of their properties. The project is designed to increase neighborhood pride and boost economic development.... Continue
Census Releases Annual Survey of Government Finances
Data for state and local government finances is the focus of two recent U.S. Census Bureau releases. One provides a ranking of states by revenues and expenditures, while the other gives a detailed breakdown of revenues, expenditures, debt and assets.... Continue
Nashville Named “Smartest City” in U.S.
Southern hospitality, great entertainment, and lots of affordable housing options helped Nashville earn the number one spot on Kiplinger’s annual list of Smart Places to Live.... Continue
Portland Mayor Offers Personal Perspective in Blogs
Portland Mayor Tom Potter could be pioneering a new trend in government communication ... his blog is an effective way to foster two-way communicate with citizens.... Continue
Chicago Takes Bids for Citywide Wi-Fi Service
Chicago is the largest U.S. city to date to move forward with plans to build a citywide wireless network. Mayor Daley aims to bridge the digital divide, making the Internet and computer technology accessible to all residents.... Continue
“Intercounty Connector” Toll Road Project Gains FHWA Approval
Let the building begin.... Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich, Jr. marked the federal approval of the Intercounty Connector project with a groundbreaking ceremony for the six-lane toll road that will connect Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties.... Continue
Government Information Online Provides Live Library Assistance
Government Information Online is a live virtual reference service that links users to a librarian specializing in government documents and publications. Through online chat opportunities or e-mail, users can ask a librarian about a variety of government matters.... Continue
Economagic Transforms Economic Data into Charts, Tables, and More
Economic data galore best describes Economagic, an economic research web site that contains over 200,000 time series that can be accessed as raw data or in chart form.... Continue
Web Chat to Focus on Disaster Prepardness and Recovery
How can local officials prepare their communities for potential disasters - like hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and floods? Disaster preparedness and recovery plans will be the topic of an upcoming web chat hosted by National City Network.... Continue
Guidelines Help Charlotte, Mecklenburg County Evaluate Return on Business Grants
A new set of guidelines should help Mecklenburg County and Charlotte determine appropriate economic development incentives offered to businesses looking to relocate or expand in the area.... Continue
“Shared Responsibility” a Key to the Future of Higher Education
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education has issued a report on the state of higher education in this country. Two authors share their views on federal and state efforts to meet the challenges facing higher education today and in the future.... Continue
GASB Looking for Input on Proposed Reporting Rules for Derivatives
In an effort to improve the financial reporting of derivatives by state and local governments, the General Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has issued a preliminary draft of new disclosure requirements. GASB also recently posted a “plain language” article - written specifically for users of financial statements - that explains derivatives and the proposed reporting requirements in easy-to-understand terms.... Continue
DataPlace: A “Power-House” Site for Housing, Demographic Data
Housing data, demographic statistics, maps, tables and charts - and that’s only the beginning! Recently enhanced to offer even more powerful tools and features, this is a must-bookmark site for anyone with an interest in state, county, or local housing or demographics.... Continue
Bellingham, St. George and McAllen Named This Year’s Business Hot Spots
Small “peripheral” cities top this year’s list of Inc. Magazine’s best places to do business. The study examines economic and demographic trends, particularly job growth, in naming its hot stops for entrepreneurs.... Continue
Nominate Your Favorite Think-Tank Web Sites!
MuniNet invites you to nominate web sites hosted by think tanks or public policy organizations that you find particularly helpful, informative and timely. Use the online form to submit your nominations now!... Continue
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.... Continue
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.... Continue
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.... Continue
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.... Continue
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.... Continue
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.... Continue
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.... Continue
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.... Continue
Sheriff’s 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.... Continue
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.... Continue
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