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Focus Archive - Personnel

Please note that Focus section links were valid at the time of their original posting. However, since Web sites and addresses change frequently, we cannot guarantee that all links will remain operative.

More on Gen Y in Government (November 18)
Three officials shared a few more comments on how to attract and integrate young leaders into government. More from Governing.

17 Low-Cost Talent Development Strategies for Local Governments (November 18)
Local government must invest in physical and human capital so they can survive and thrive as times improve. More from ICMA.

Private Pay, Public Pensions and Some Real Math (November 12)
Let's replace ideology with compensation analytics. More from Governing.

In Search of a Fair Pension Formula (October 28)
Realistic income-replacement ratios in the 'new normal' economy. More from Governing.

Re-engineering and Installing Sustainable Pension and OPEB Plans (October 21)
Many jurisdictions are concerned about the affordability of their retirement benefits. If your organization is looking for solutions, there are ways to achieve sustainable financing. More from Government Finance Review.

Gen Y in the Workplace (October 21)
How to attract and retain the best young leaders. More from Governing.

Kirkland Tests Pandemic Flu Emergency Plan (October 21)
More than 50 City of Kirkland employees recently participated in an exercise as part of the City’s emergency management planning for pandemic flu. The test provided valuable information should it become necessary for the City to institute social distancing procedures in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak. More from the city of Kirkland.

Preparing for and Responding to Issues Relating to the H1N1 Influenza Virus (October 21)
Even in times of a flu pandemic, employers must still abide by anti-discrimination laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. More from Lane Powell's Labor and Employment Legal Update.

For Unions, Tough Bargaining Times (October 21)
Mayors are asking public employees to to give up raises to save their cities. More from Governing.

MRSC Services Survey (October 21)
MRSC is conducting a brief survey to assess whether or not our existing services are meeting your needs and to determine your interest in any additional services. We would appreciate your taking a few minutes to respond to these nine questions. Thank you.

Generational Battle Brews Over Gilded Baby-Boom Pensions (October 14)
Resentment is building among younger workers, and Boomer unionists face a backlash. More from Governing.

A Safer Place to Play (October 14)
Comprehensive background checks demonstrate the commitment of park and recreation agencies to their communities. More from Parks & Recreation.

No Increase to Washington’s Minimum Wage in 2010 (October 07)
Washington’s minimum wage will not increase in 2010 but will remain the same at $8.55 an hour because the Consumer Price Index for the past 12 months did not increase. More from the State Department of Labor & Industries.

Retirement Benefits and the Incumbent Employee Conundrum (September 30)
Bill baby boomers for their retirement costs — before they get away. More from Governing.

Prefunding OPEB in State and Local Governments (September 23)
A new issue brief from the Center for State & Local Government Excellence, Prefunding Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) in State and Local Governments: Options and Early Evidence, takes a hard look at the options state and local governments are pursuing to reduce their unfunded liabilities for retiree health care.

How Four-Day Weeks Work (September 23)
This alternative schedule can improve efficiency and work-life balance, but how is it implemented? More from Governing.

Where Less is More Efficient (September 16)
There are signs that four-day workweeks may have another, unexpected benefit: greater efficiency. More from Governing.

Few Payoffs for Overtime Pay (September 02)
It can be a drag on pensions and the bottom line. More from Governing.

Planning to Retire? Maybe Not. (August 12)
The economic downturn is prompting public sector employees to reevaluate their retirement plans. More from American City & County.

Saving the Nest Egg (August 05)
It’s time to restore balance to the funding of pension plans. More from Governing.

A Successful Strategy for Recruiting Women into the Law Enforcement Profession (July 15)
In spite heightened recruitment efforts and competitive compensation packages, the number of women entering protective services—and policing in particular—has not increased substantially over the past two decades. More from The Police Chief.

Trimming Benefits (July 15)
Government employee benefits are becoming a casualty of the nation's economic battles. More from American City & County.

Government Benefits Comparison Tool (June 24)
The Center for State and Local Government Excellence and the Government Finance Officers Association have partnered on a new free tool that provides detailed health care and pension data on the typical benefits cities and counties offer their retirees, and how they pay or plan to pay for these benefits.

A Tidal Wave Postponed: The Economy and Public Sector Retirements (May 20)
The slumping economy is holding back retirements among state and local government employees, according to a new survey of government managers. More from the Center for State and Local Government Excellence.

MRSC's In Focus e-Newsletter for Councilmembers and Commissioners (May 20)
MRSC's bi-weekly In Focus e-newsletter is an excellent way for your elected officials to stay informed about the latest news, research, events and trends affecting Washington city and county governments. Sign them up today.

Celebrating 75 Years of Research and Services! (April 23)
MRSC proudly continues the program begun as the Bureau of Governmental Research and Services in 1934 at the University of Washington. In honor of our organization’s 75th anniversary, we hope that you will enjoy a multimedia slideshow containing highlights of our history. Also see “Twenty-Five Years of Governmental Research and Service” prepared in honor of the Bureau’s 25th anniversary in 1959.

The Pain of Cutting Payroll (April 22)
Whacked by budget deficits and with no end to sluggish economies in sight, states, cities and counties have been forced to make the hardest cuts of all — workforce reductions. More from Governing.

MRSC Blog: Selected Local Government Press Releases (April 22)
We have launched our blog containing selected local government press releases to keep you informed on new Washington local government programs and initiatives. Each entry is assigned a category (finance, planning, etc.) and a tag (wetlands, urban forestry, etc.) so you can sort them by topic. If you have not already done so, please add blog@mrsc.org to your agency's press release distribution list.

Sharing the Pension Pain (March 26)
Public officials have been slow to react to the changing landscape in pension finance, and it's imperative that they wake up and smell the coffee soon, especially those who are involved in labor negotiations. More from Governing.

The Power of Intrinsic Rewards (March 26)
The strongest motivators come from inside a person. More from Governing.

Taking on the Sacred Cows (March 18)
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is proposing some new math when it comes to pensions for first responders. More from Governing.

Stimulus Plan Provides Subsidized Cobra Coverage (February 26)
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the “economic stimulus plan” includes a federal subsidy, for up to nine months, of 65% of the cost of COBRA continuation coverage for employees who lose group health insurance coverage between September 1, 2008 and December 31, 2009 due to involuntary termination. More from K&L Gates Compensation and Benefits Alert.

Consolidating the Job Search (February 26)
Instead of searching through individual Web sites or visiting government offices for job postings , applicants in the Puget Sound region need only go to GovJobsToday.com.

New FMLA Posters Required (February 24)
Federal regulations for the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) have been amended, and revised posters outlining FMLA rights are required to be posted in the workplace. Though private companies may offer to sell you the posters, we recommend that you obtain the posters for free through the US Department of Labor.

The Millennial in the Cubicle (February 19)
A new generation of workers expects unfettered access to technology tools. They may end up changing the way governments operate. More from Governing.

Be Sure to Use New I-9 Forms (January 08)
Beginning February 2, 2009, all employers, including local governments, must use a new edition of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Form I-9 to verify that their new employees are eligible for employment. USCIS has prepared an information sheet about the verification process and use of the new forms. The new form will be available on the USCIS Web site.

Free on Friday (December 18)
Whether it’s to save energy or lure young workers, states and localities are testing the four-day work week. More from Governing.

Cutting Benefits: The Wrong Way and the Right Way (December 11)
Although federal aid to state and local governments from the Obama administration seems likely in January, painful cutbacks are inevitable. More from Governing.

Cutting for Excellence (December 11)
Slashing spending offers opportunities for positive change. But a government’s workers need to be part of the process, and they need to know they are being treated fairly. More from Governing.

Workers' Compensation Insurance Premiums Increasing by 3 Percent (December 04)
The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) recently announced that premiums for workers’ compensation insurance will go up, on average, 3 percent in 2009. More from L & I.

IRS Announces 2009 Standard Mileage Rates (December 04)
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2009, the IRS standard mileage rate for the use of a car will be 55 cents per mile for business miles driven. More from the IRS.

Guidelines for Maximizing Training Efforts (November 25)
In any law enforcement agency, training can be the key contributor to the nurturing and development of a professional mind-set, self-awareness, and ethical values for both individual officers and the organization as a whole. More from The Police Chief.

Rethinking Police Training (November 20)
Ever since the U.S. Congress passed the Safe Streets Act of 1968, which provided substantial federal assistance to local law enforcement agencies for training, basic recruit peace officer training has been a significant and ongoing issue across the country. More from The Police Chief.

Broken Benefits Promises? (November 20)
Will public employers be able to actually afford their past promises for retiree health care? They need to conduct a formal sustainability audit. More from Governing.

New FMLA Rules (November 20)
New rules have been adopted governing the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA); they go into effect January 16, 2009. More from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Law Enforcement Leadership Development Program (November 13)
A well-designed leadership development program helps ensure that qualified staff members are available to replace those exiting the organization. More from The Police Chief.

IT - Unclogging Networks (November 07)
To increase network traffic, clamp down on bandwidth hogs, and save money, time and energy, IT agencies are turning to applications that identify employee activity online. More from American City & County.

Putting an End to Pension 'Spiking' (November 07)
When employees game the system by artificially boosting their retirement compensation, taxpayers lose. Here's how to curtail that abuse. More from Governing.

Now, Can I Ever Afford to Retire? (October 30)
Public-employee pensions are more insulated from the market meltdown than private-sector retirement plans. But they're not immune. More from Governing.

Washington’s Minimum Wage to Increase to $8.55 (October 02)
Washington’s minimum wage will increase 48 cents to $8.55 an hour beginning Jan. 1, 2009. More from L & I News.

Good Question! (October 02)
Regular users of this site know that we feature an "inquiry of the week" on the MRSC home page (see right-hand column). We have now incorporated a compilation of these questions and responses into the MRSC Index. The MRSC Index is a one-stop listing of all web pages, documents and inquiries that we have on any given topic. Browse the index by topic or search it by keyword.

Local Government Budget Library (October 02)
MRSC maintains an extensive collection of local government budgets organized by city, county and special purpose districts. We also link to online budgets (along with other documents and services) within the profiles that we maintain for each city and county.

New Feature - National News Clippings (September 04)
We've added a new feature to our "Local Governments in the News" section below. Now, in addition to our regular local news source clippings, we will also be featuring news clippings from various national news sources highlighting current events, trends and other news affecting Washington city and county governments and special districts.

Soaring Gas Prices Fuel Four-Day Weeks (August 19)
With the cost of regular unleaded gasoline eclipsing $4 a gallon, some cities and counties are offering employees four-day workweek schedules to reduce fuel consumption. More from American City & County.

When It’s Time to Cut (August 07)
How do you keep public employees optimistic and productive when budget surgery brings staff reductions? There are ways. More from Governing.

Will Employers Want Aging Boomers? (July 24)
A new report from the Urban Institute examines the current employer demand for older workers and explores how demand may be changing over time. More from the Urban Institute.

Quick Links to City/County Information (July 17)
MRSC recently expanded the types of key documents (e.g., budgets and comp plans) and services (e.g., council broadcasts and online service request forms) that we track in our "city profiles" page. Use these profiles for quick access to city and town documents and services. For county information, see our "county profiles" page.

Fit for Duty? (July 03)
The U.S. population in general is not as fit as it should be—and police officers are no exception. More from The Police Chief.

Workplace Rule for Outdoor Heat takes effect July 5 (July 03)
With temperatures reaching near-record levels in many parts of the state this week, the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is reminding employers that a permanent outdoor heat rule takes effect Saturday, July 5.

IRS Increases Mileage Rates through Dec. 31, 2008 (June 26)
The Internal Revenue Service recently announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rates for the final six months of 2008. The rate will increase from 50.5 cents to 58.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven from July 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008. More from the IRS.

Going Holistic (June 12)
Paying attention to an employee's mental health as well as their physical wellbeing is part of a growing trend of breaking down the barriers in the delivery of traditional employee health care. More from American City and County.

Fat Pensions Spell Doom for Many Cities (June 05)
Vallejo, Calif., took the extreme step of filing for bankruptcy to get out of generous obligations to public employees. Other cities and states are watching. More from CNN Money.

A Mug Full of Change (May 29)
Employees don't need another new mug with a catchy slogan. They need context. More from Governing.

At Work on the Web (May 23)
Government policies aimed at restricting Web access may be doing as much harm as they are preventing. More from Governing.

Receive RSS Feeds of In Focus (May 23)
We’ve added another option for you to receive information from MRSC: RSS Feeds. Simply click on the RSS button to create an “MRSC In Focus” folder in your email program or RSS reader. You will automatically begin receiving updates to our main Focus page, “Local Governments in the News,” the four Advisor columns, and our “What’s New” section. You can unsubscribe at any time by simply deleting the folder from your RSS reader or email program.

Employee Benefits in State and Local Governments (May 15)
The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics National Compensation Survey: Employee Benefits in State and Local Government, September 2007, is the first release of data on benefits in state and local government since 1998.

Police Study: A Look at the 12-Hour Shift (April 09)
The pros and cons of 12-hour shifts for police departments are often a matter of speculation for law enforcement executives looking for different ways to deploy scarce resources. More from The Police Chief.

Want Better Performance? Pay For It. (March 20)
The notion that government employees don't respond to financial incentives doesn't match reality. More from Governing.

Workers Cite Biggest Productivity Barriers (March 20)
Asked to name the single biggest barrier to on-the-job productivity last year, the majority of workers cite being “overloaded,” according to a new poll by LifeCare, Inc.More from LifeCare.

Kirkland Lecture Series - Robert Gibbs Video Presentation (March 13)
The city of Kirkland recently hosted a presentation by Robert Gibbs, a nationally known retail specialist, on "New Trends in Town and City Retail Commerce." Windows Media Player is required to view the video.

Locate Sample Ordinances, Contracts, RFPs (March 13)
You can use MRSC's search system to locate a wide variety of local government documents. Note the new options to the right of your search results that allow you to limit your results by agency type, population range, region, form and class of government. Watch a brief tutorial to learn more about using our advanced search features.

New Urban Institute Report - Employing and Retaining Older Workers (March 13)
As the U.S. population ages and the number of people reaching traditional retirement ages increases, employers need to do more to attract and retain older workers, many of whom are highly experienced, knowledgeable, and skilled. More from the Urban Institute.

Benefits for Younger vs. Older Workers (March 06)
A new report by the Segal company reveals fresh insights into the factors that motivate public employees of various ages. More from Governing

Public Sector Must Pay, Stay Competitive (March 06)
To explain the differences in public and private sector compensation, it's important to dig beneath the surface. More from ICMA.

New Tax Break for Volunteer Firefighters and EMTs (February 27)
The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 passed by Congress late last year also contained a number of other smaller tax relief packages, one of which contains a tax break for volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Institutionalizing Mentoring in Police Departments (February 14)
There are three primary goals of a mentoring relationship: to promote professional growth, to inspire personal motivation, and to enhance effectiveness of police service. More from The Police Chief.

Workers’ Comp Rates will Increase 3.2 Percent (December 20)
The Washington Department of Labor & Industries recently adopted workers’ compensation rates for 2008, increasing premiums by an average of 3.2 percent next year. More from L&I.

Personnel - The Future is Now (November 20)
It's one thing to attract young people to government jobs. It's another to keep them there. More from Governing.

A Blueprint for Building the Leadership Pipeline (November 06)
The cascading impact of retirements, the rising expectations among employees for development opportunities, and the need for increased leadership competencies are just some of the management challenges looming in the decade ahead. More from Public Management.

Overcoming the Police Shortage (October 17)
It's time to think about a new way to compensate police officers by sweetening the pot with higher salaries and more realistic retirement benefits. More from Governing.

The $3 Trillion Challenge (October 10)
No one knows much about how public pension funds are governed or who’s governing them. It’s about time we did. More from Governing.

Workforce Planning Guide (October 03)
A new report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government, "Seven Steps of Effective Workforce Planning," (674 KB) provides a framework for understanding the basic elements of workforce planning.

Washington’s Minimum Wage to Increase on Jan. 1 (October 03)
Washington’s minimum wage will increase 14 cents to $8.07 an hour beginning Jan. 1, 2008. More from L&I News.

The Young and the Restless (September 05)
There are proven ways to recruit and retain the emerging generation. Most states and localities don’t seem to know about them. More from Governing.

Rx for Sick Leave (August 22)
It's time for public officials to take a hard look at how sick leave fits into their government's overall compensation and human resources programs, including retiree medical benefits funding. More from Governing.

Update on LEOFF 2 Pension Rates (August 22)
On pages 40-41 of MRSC's Budget Suggestions for 2008 publication, we have pension rate tables, with a footnote that LEOFF 2 rates would increase from those shown, effective 9/1/2007, due to 2007 legislation. An article in the August 16, 2007 AWC Legislative Bulletin, "LEOFF 2 Board Adopts Supplemental Rate Increase," provides more information on these changes.

Developing Existing Talent to Ensure a Future Leadership Pipeline (July 23)
What can local governments do to prepare the next generation of leaders and to develop individuals already in the leadership pipeline? Read more from ICMA.

Home Is Where Your Work Is (July 10)
Telecommuting can be a great way to reduce pollution and traffic, decrease costs, increase productivity, boost job satisfaction and retain talent. When done right, that is, but attitudes create obstacles. Read more on telework from Governing's Managing Technology Newsletter..

Improving the Government Brand (June 21)
With the impending retirement of the Baby Boomers in government services, how can government attract necessary talent? Read this week's Management Insights Column from Governing.

Web Sightings – Workforce Planning (June 07)
With the prospect of many local government employees retiring in the next 10 to 20 years, increased attention has focused on workforce development and succession planning. The following are a few links to workforce and succession planning sites:

Workforce.com - General information on employment law, human resource development, and human resource management
Washington State Department of Personnel, Workforce Planning
Job Training Programs, MRSC Web page - Includes workforce development and workforce development councils
University of Washington Center for Workforce Development - Focuses on the challenges of the emerging workforce: recruitment, retention, and advancement of women and underrepresented minorities.
WorkSource, Washington, WorkForce Development Councils - Workforce Development Councils assure quality services to customers in the implementation of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Workforce and Succession Planning in Government, California
Succession Planning Resource Guide, National Center for State Courts - Includes links to Succession/Workforce Planning generally
Workforce Planning Resources (PDF), University of North Carolina School of Government
Top 10 Practices to Move Local Governments Beyond Succession Planning, Dalhousie University, Canada
State of Minnesota Workforce Planning Links
Workforce Development, City of Richland

New ICMA Center for State and Local Government Excellence (June 04)
ICMA-RC and ICMA announced the formation of the Center for State and Local Government Excellence, whose mission is to help state and local governments become competitive employers. The Center also seeks to promote careers in state and local government. View the Press Release and the CSLGE Web site

Putting Child Care in the Picture as Part of Community Infrastructure (June 04)
Government officials ought to recognize that more than 70 percent of mothers with children under age six are in the workforce, and more than half of them use child care, according to the U.S. Census. Shouldn't child care be part of local, state, and federal planning efforts? See article on planning efforts in APA's Planning June 2007.

New ADA Technical Assistance Materials (May 15)
The Department of Justice recently released new technical assistance materials to help state and local governments comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). More from Government Technology.

Lassoing GASB 45 (May 15)
Texas is leading a charge to get rid of the accounting rule that forces states and localities to tally the future costs of health benefits for retirees. More from Governing.

The Disability Dilemma (May 01)
Police officers and firefighters injured in the line of duty receive generous benefits. Can localities afford to keep paying for them? More from Governing.

Firefighting: Among Top Three Jobs for Satisfaction (May 01)
A new report from the University of Chicago found firefighters to be some of the most satisfied and happiest of American workers, directly behind clergy. More from the International Fire Chiefs Association.

Measuring Individual Contributions (April 18)
How can a public manager figure out who is making a significant contribution to the agency's success if no one has defined success? More from Bob Behn's Management Report.

IRS Taxable Fringe Benefits Guide (February 22)
The Internal Revenue Service's Taxable Fringe Benefits Guide (382KB) explains which employee fringe benefits related to travel and non-travel issues are taxable and reportable under the Internal Revenue Code, regulations, and procedures.

Personnel - Paying for Promises (February 06)
After the shock of the big numbers, states and localities are finding ways to deal with the costs of their retirees’ health care. More from Governing.

Management - Avoiding All Mistakes (December 28)
One of the challenges facing public executives is to raise the level of reputational rewards that can be earned by employees for producing success, while lowering the reputational costs incurred for making mistakes. More from Bob Behn's Public Management Report.

A Search for Fairness in the Disciplinary Process (November 14)
There are few issues among law enforcement personnel that can raise more concern, debate, rancor, and sometimes outright dissension than that of employee discipline--both the manner in which agencies investigate specific allegations of employee misconduct, and the way in which disciplinary penalties are determined. More from The Police Chief.

Police Officer Recruitment: A Public-Sector Crisis (November 08)
Law enforcement agencies throughout the United States are having difficulty filling peace officer positions while each year more baby boomers are completing their law enforcement careers and leaving the force. More from The Police Chief.

A Promotional Process for the Smaller Police Agency (October 31)
Handling promotions is stressful for any agency, no matter what the size. In a small police agency where promotions are infrequent, a keen interest if focused on this rare event, and the resulting organizational stress can be acute. More from The Police Chief.

Washington Minimum Wage to Increase to $7.93 an Hour Jan. 1 (October 03)
Washington’s minimum wage will increase 30 cents to $7.93 an hour beginning Jan. 1, 2007. More from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries.

Policewomen: Their First Century and the New Era (September 26)
Women in policing now make up approximately 13-14 percent of all employees, and the women who pioneered this entry into a male-dominated profession faced many obstacles, but also experienced many rewards. More from The Police Chief.

When Boomers Retire (September 20)
A number of states are looking to career-building programs to grow their workforces of the future. More from Governing.

Public Finance as a Profession (August 22)
Public service is demanding,difficult work. For most practitioners in the filed,a career in public finance is a conscious choice to serve through skill. More from Public Finance ( 3.4mb).

Changing Profession Requires New Level of Education (August 22)
As the new century brings new challenges and new opportunities for police officers, it also requires the police profession as a whole to reevaluate its educational requirements. More from The Police Chief.

Performance Matters (August 15)
Although performance measurement is an increasingly popular management tool that helps local governments meet community goals, employees sometimes need extra support to embrace this process. More from Public Management.

IRS Releases FSLG Toolkit (August 01)
The Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) new "Federal, State, and Local Government Toolkit" includes, among other things, the Public Employer's Tax Guide, Federal-State Reference Guide, Employer's Tax Guide, and the Taxable Fringe Benefits Guide.

Promoting a Culture of Ethics at City Hall (August 01)
Local government organizations need strategies to inform, inspire and encourage individuals to act ethically - and also to hold them accountable when they do not. More from Western City.

Teams, Individuals, and Rewards (July 18)
Why should we expect more cooperation and teamwork in our organizations when most of the rewards and recognition go to individuals? More from Management Insights.

Supreme Court Narrows Speech Protection Rights for Public Employees (June 20)
The Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment provides no protection for speech made by public employees in the course of their official job duties in a 5 - 4 decision on May 30. More from NACo's County News.

Healthcare Costs - Temperature's Rising (May 16)
The heat is on to find a cure for increasing healthcare costs as many local and state governments struggle to find the funds to cope. More from American City & County.

Retiring with Healthcare (May 16)
It seems inevitable that government retirees will be picking up more of their healthcare costs as soaring expenses, demographic forces and new accounting disclosures compel governments to reassess retiree healthcare benefits. More from American City & County.

OPEB: Coming to Grips with the Cost of Retiree Health Care (May 16)
The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) recently issued new government accounting standards related to "other post-employment benefits" (OPEB). More from Public Management.

Financial Management - Raising Revenues (May 10)
Since 2001, half of the nation's cities have raised new revenues to address gaps created by rising employee health care and pension costs, and increases in public safety and infrastructure needs. More from American City & County.

Ivy League Training Available to Government Employees (April 26)
eCornell recently announced the signing of a distribution agreement with the National Technical Information Service to provide discounted tuition for online management training and executive development to government employees at the federal, state, and local levels. More from Government Technology.

Washington Peace Officer Certification (March 16)
Doug Blair, Peace Officer Certification Manager, Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission, answers frequently asked questions about the CJTC's basic law enforcement training requirements.

GASB Changes Rules on Post-Employment Benefits (March 16)
New Governmental Accounting Standards Board's (GASB) guidelines require all local governments to identify and disclose the liability and funding status of any post-retirement benefits they offer. More from NACo's County News.

Census Bureau Report on the Effects of Affirmative Action (March 16)
A report from the U.S. Census Bureau, Affirmative Action: What Do We Know? (117kb), reviews the research evidence on the effects of affirmative action in employment, university admissions and government procurement.

Flexible Schedules Help Keep Baby Boomers on Board (March 07)
Flexible work arrangements that meet the needs of employers and retirement phasers will become standard practice as more members of the Boomer generation become eligible for retirement. More from American City & County.

Expert Exodus (February 08)
As baby boomers retire, governments are trying to keep knowledge and experience from going out the door with them. More from Governing.

Succession Planning: Mentoring Your Replacement (February 08)
As police chiefs face another generational change in the workplace, it is their responsibility to train and prepare replacements. More from The Police Chief.

End Annual Personnel Appraisals? (January 25)
Most organizations--private, public and nonprofit--engage in the annual ritual of performance appraisal. Yet few believe that it accomplishes very much. More from Bob Behn's Public Management Report.

New Ask MRSC E-newsletter (January 18)
Ask MRSC is a free, subscription-based, monthly e-mail newsletter featuring answers to selected questions received by our consultant staff. It's one more way for you to stay informed on current issues affecting city and county government. View a sample issue or go directly to our subscription page and sign up to receive Ask MRSC today. It's free!

Web Sightings 2005 (January 18)
In case you missed them, here's a look back at 2005's Web Sightings:

New Minimum Wage took Effect Jan. 1 (January 04)
Washington’s minimum wage increased 28 cents to $7.63 an hour beginning Jan. 1, 2006. More from the Washington Department of Labor & Industries.

Law Enforcement - Overcoming Lateral Transfer Training Issues (January 04)
When a department employs a lateral transferee there are a number of training-related issues to resolve before the transferee is assigned to active street duty. More from The Police Chief.

IRS Sets 2006 Standard Mileage Rate at 44.5 Cents per Mile (December 09)
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently set the 2006 standard mileage rate for business use of private vehicles at 44.5 cents per mile, down from the rate of 48.5 cents that was set for the last four months of 2005. Local governments may (but need not) reimburse employees at 44.5 cents per mile without having to report the reimbursement as taxable income. More from the IRS.

No General Increase in 2006 Workers' Compensation Rates (November 22)
The Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) recently announced there will be no general increase in workers' compensation premiums for 2006. More from L&I News.

Telecommuting - The Quiet Success (November 17)
A recent study from the Reason Foundation, "The Quiet Success: Telecommuniting's Impact on Transportation and Beyond," (100kb) shows that people working from home now outnumber mass transit commuters in 27 of the nation's 50 largest metropolitan areas.

Minimum Wage to Increase to $7.63 an Hour Jan. 1, 2006 (October 05)
Washington's minimum wage will increase 28 cents to $7.63 an hour beginning Jan. 1, 2006. More from the Department of Labor & Industries.

Wellness - Carrots and Sticks (September 21)
There’s danger in expecting wellness programs to work miracles and abandoning them when they don’t. More from Governing.

The Next Great Urban Crisis (June 15)
If you like disaster stories, then we have a doozy for you. It's a problem so great that Fortune magazine recently described it as "a time bomb quietly ticking away in the netherlands of state and local government." More from Civic Strategies.

Complete the Streets! (May 09)
New state and local policies require that virtually all roads be built to serve all types of users. More from Planning Magazine.

Wellness Programs Lighten Health Costs (April 06)
The two biggest contributors that plague local government employee health care costs — obesity and smoking — are arguably the most preventable. More from American City & County.

ADA Guide for Small Towns (March 29)
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Guide for Small Towns presents an informal overview of some basic ADA requirements and provides cost- effective tips on how small towns can comply with the ADA.

USERRA Employer Notice Requirement (March 23)
As of March 10, 2005, employers are required to provide employees entitled to Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)-governed health care continuation rights with a notice of their rights, benefits, and obligations. More from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Continuation of Health Insurance Coverage under USERRA (March 23)
The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 (see Section 201), enacted by Congress in December 2004, extends the period for which an employee covered by USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) may elect to continue employer-sponsored health insurance coverage from 18 months to 24 months.

Unlocking the Potential of Your Employees (February 09)
People will be more engaged in their work if they are treated as respected, valued adults who have individual motives, abilities, and preferences. More from Government Finance Review (178kb).

Washington State Starts E-Learning (January 12)
Washington State launched a statewide e-learning network that will provide more than 70,000 employees at its 83 state agencies with access to 1,200 online courses. More from Federal Computer Week.

NRMC Launches Workplace Safety Toolkit (January 12)
The Nonprofit Risk Management Center (NRMC) has launched its new Workplace Safety Toolkit, a free online resource to help you build a safer workplace. More from the Public Entity Risk Institute.

Get MRSC Web Site Updates and Quarterly Newsletter by E-mail (January 04)
Subscribe to MRSC's free bi-weekly Web site updates and quarterly newsletter and get all of the latest local government news and information delivered right to your desktop.

Web Sightings - 2004 (January 04)
In case you missed them, here's a look back at 2004's Web Sightings:

Cottage Housing (December)
Non-motorized Transportation (November)
Elections (October)
Public Art Programs (September)
Resource Lands (August)
Healthy Communities (July)
Terrorism and Homeland Security (June)
Volunteer Programs (May)
Citizen Involvement in Local Government (March)
Downtown Revitalization (February)
Shoreline Management (January)

Locals Plan to Fill Jobs Left by Retiring Baby Boomers (January 04)
A handful of local governments are developing innovative strategies, including leadership training for younger employees, to deal with the coming baby boom bust. More from American City and County.