Governance
Below are recent studies, reports, magazine articles, and other resources that MRSC has collected regarding local governance issues.
All links go to external websites. Please note that these links were valid at the time of their original posting, but because websites and addresses may change, we cannot guarantee that all links still work.
A Process for Building Public Trust (October 18, 2019)
Five key steps that are emerging as the core elements of a process focused on building public trust. More from ICMA Blog.
Mayors Are Harassed and Threatened, But Just How Often? (September 24, 2019)
A new national survey assesses how frequently mayors experience various forms of abuse. More from Governing.
Municipal Form of Government by the Numbers (September 20, 2019)
This month's "facts and stats" blog looks at recent results from the 2018 ICMA Municipal Form of Government Survey. More from ICMA Blog.
What Do Local Leaders Need to Know about the FCC Cable Order? (August 27, 2019)
On August 1, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to approve a report and order that will make dramatic changes to cable franchises managed by state and local governments. The order, which will go into effect 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register, has two major components that will impact local governments. More from NLC's CitiesSpeak.
County Branding Means More Than a Logo (August 1, 2019)
Branding your county is a time-consuming, deliberative process, but one that can unify residents in the end. More from NACo's County News.
Report: Regulating Commercial Cannabis & Community Impacts (May 21, 2019)
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) has produced a report, The Local Impacts of Commercial Cannabis, addressing the implications of commercial cannabis of interest to all communities considering legalization. More from EfficientGov.
Why Orientation is Needed for All Members in Local Government (April 30, 2019)
An orientation is needed for all councilmembers, not simply those who are the most recently elected. More from ICMA Blog.
How to Get More Women into Local Government Management Positions (April 5, 2019)
Women make up a mere 20 percent of Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) at local governments. Will this ever change — and if so, how? More from GovLoop.
Timeline Gets Tight for 2020 Census (March 28, 2019)
The 2020 census is coming in a matter of months, not years, and time is running out for counties to be ready. More from NACo's County News.
Civic Engagement Means More Than Gathering Data (February 27, 2019)
Why listening to residents and building ownership are critical. More from Public Management.
Colorado Convenes County Leaders on Evidence-Based Policymaking (February 22, 2019)
Focus is on challenges, opportunities in making decisions backed by research. More from PEW
The Year in Review (January 11, 2019)
2018 was a year of ups and downs. From NIMBY battles to natural disasters, from elections to electric scooters, the stories that dominated the headlines are sure to resonate in 2019 and beyond. More from CityLab.
Can US Cities Help the World Achieve Sustainable Development Goals? (January 9, 2019)
Despite a crisis of confidence at the national level, a significant majority of Americans still believe in the ability of their local governments to deliver. More from Brookings.
Nearly Half of U.S. Cities Have Fewer Than 1,000 Residents (December 19, 2018)
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the vast majority of cities in this country are small. In fact, most would be better described as "teeny tiny." Here's a look at the number of cities by population category. More from Government Technology.