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MRSC Insight Blog

Recent Posts

Allegations and the PRA: Navigating the Disclosure of Internal Investigations

October 19, 2020 by Sarah Doar
Category: Public Records Act

This blog post looks at questions that might arise when a request is made for a public record pertaining to the internal investigation of an employee.

Washington Supreme Court Finds I-976 Unconstitutional

October 16, 2020 by Oskar Rey
Category: Revenues , Court Decisions and AGO Opinions

This blog provides a brief overview of a recent Washington Supreme Court ruling striking down I-976.

A Refresher on the Gift of Public Funds

October 15, 2020 by Oskar Rey
Category: Gift of Public Funds

This blog provides on overview of the state's prohibition on gifts of public funds for local governments and elected officials, including tips on avoiding violations of the prohibition.

Regulating Non-Commercial Temporary Signs During Election Season

October 14, 2020 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Elections , Sign Control

This blog post provides a brief refresher on how a jurisdiction may regulate temporary, campaign-related signs in a post-Reed v. Gilbert environment.

COVID-19 Vaccinations in the Local Government Workplace

October 12, 2020 by Flannary Collins
Category: Personnel , COVID-19

This blog article offers an overview of the legal considerations local governments must review when determining whether or not to require compulsory COVID-19 vaccinations before employees may return to work.

Climate Change: What Can Local Governments Do?

October 8, 2020 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Climate Change

This blog explains the basic elements of a Climate Action Plan, provide examples, and shares some of the many resources related to climate policy.

Goodbye from Finance Consultant Mike Bailey

October 5, 2020 by Mike Bailey
Category:

Finance Consultant Mike Bailey is retiring. In this blog post, he reflects on his many years working with and for local governments in Washington State.

Micromobility Moves Forward in Washington, Despite the Pandemic

October 1, 2020 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Cycling and Walking

This blog post looks at scooter share pilots recently launched in King County and Seattle.

See You Later: Finance Consultant Toni Nelson Retires

September 28, 2020 by Toni Nelson
Category:

Finance Consultant Toni Nelson is retiring at the end of September after a long career in local government.

Encouraging Small-Scale Manufacturing During the COVID-19 Pandemic

September 25, 2020 by Steve Butler
Category: Strategies and Programs , COVID-19

This blog post looks at small-scale manufacturing, its role in a strong local economy, and how local governments can encourage the growth of these critical businesses.

Advancing Racial Equity at the Local Government Level

September 24, 2020 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Inclusive Communities

This blog post offers an overview of diversity and racial equity training options that local governments may wish to implement.

What’s New for Washington Cyclists in 2020?

September 21, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Cycling and Walking

This blog post provides an overview of two pieces of legislation related to bicycling: SSB 5723, from 2019, and SSB 6208, from 2020.

The 9th Circuit Backs the FCC in Small Wireless Appeal

September 18, 2020 by Ogden Murphy Wallace
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Telecommunications

This post covers a recent ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upholding Federal Communications Commission Orders preempting many aspects of local government regulation of small wireless facilities.

Disaster Zone: COVID-19, Adapt Not Endure

September 17, 2020 by Eric Holdeman
Category:

What will life look like once the coronavirus pandemic is contained? Guest author Eric Holdeman suggests we will need to adapt and offers some ideas on what changes might be coming.

ADR: Negotiation and Facilitation

September 14, 2020 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Management

This blog post provides an overview of negotiation and facilitation, two Alternative Dispute Resolution tools.

Keeping People Housed: Homelessness Prevention Strategies to Bridge Emergencies

September 10, 2020 by Laura Crandall
Category: Homelessness , COVID-19

This blog post identifies root cause contributors to homelessness and details a variety of prevention strategies for local governments.

Filling a Vacancy in City or Town Councils

September 8, 2020 by MRSC Insight
Category: Legislative Body

This post addresses the basics of filing a vacancy on a city or town council.

COVID-19: Where Things Stand as of September 3, 2020

September 4, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Elections , Open Public Meetings Act , Utilities - Billing and Collection , Public Records Act , COVID-19

This blog post provides an overview of recent state (and some federal) actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

President’s Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations

September 1, 2020 by Toni Nelson
Category: Compensation , COVID-19

This blog post reviews a recent federal memorandum directing the U.S. Treasury to defer the withholding, deposit, and payment of Social Security taxes on wages and compensation paid during September 1 through December 31, 2020.

Implicit Price Deflator Falls Below 1%

August 31, 2020 by Toni Nelson
Category: Economic, Population and Historical Tax Data

This blog provides an update of the latest economic data regarding the implicit price deflator, as well as other considerations needed for setting property tax levies for 2021.