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MRSC Insight Blog

Recent Posts

Ballot Measure Results from the 2019 General Election

November 12, 2019 by Steve Hawley
Category: Elections , Forms of Government-City , Housing , Public Transit

Interested in learning how various ballot measures fared in the 2019 General Election? This blog post covers several, including I-976 and those related to special purpose districts across the state.

New FCC Order on Cable Franchising

November 7, 2019 by Elana Zana
Category: Telecommunications

This blog post looks at the recent order from the Federal Communications Commission, which addresses franchise fees local governments often charge cable operators, as well as what defines an in-kind contribution.

New Guidance in Accounting for and Reporting Leases

November 4, 2019 by Mike Bailey
Category: Accounting , Revenues , Financial Reporting

This blog post looks at the new standards the Governmental Accounting Standards Board has released regarding accounting for and reporting leases.

Recounts, Ties, and Other Post-Election Scenarios

November 1, 2019 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Elections

This post addresses issues or events that may arise after a general election, such as recounts, ties, election contests, and assumption of office.

Dealing with Snow and Ice on Streets and Sidewalks

October 28, 2019 by Paul Sullivan
Category: Snow and Ice Removal

What can or should a municipality do to deal with accumulations of snow and ice on sidewalks and streets? Who is liable when a citizen falls due to an icy sidewalk? This blog post covers some basics.

Records Requests from Agency Elected Officials

October 24, 2019 by Oskar Rey
Category: Public Records Act

What happens if your elected official files a public records request with your local government? This blog post looks at how to handle what should be a simple request, but often isn't due to extenuating circumstances.

Cyber Response and Insurance

October 22, 2019 by Laura Crandall
Category: Cybersecurity

How should your agency prepare itself for a cyberattack? This blog post looks at the role an emergency plan and cyber insurance can play in helping an agency recover from a cyber incident.

Announcing an Updated Homelessness & Housing Toolkit

October 18, 2019 by Steve Butler
Category: Homelessness

In 2017 MRSC partnered with the Association of Washington Cities to develop the Homelessness & Housing Toolkit for Cities. This publication has been updated for 2019 and covers such hot-topic items as SHB 1406, Martin v. City of Boise, and more.

Please Stop: Handling Public Requests

October 15, 2019 by Paul Sullivan
Category: Public Records Act

Municipal employees sometimes must deal with a variety of requests, and some can be quite challenging. This article looks at what local governments can and cannot broadly do in terms of responding to large public records requests and complaints.

Budget Hearings: How Many Do You Need to Hold?

October 11, 2019 by Toni Nelson
Category: Budgets and Budgeting , Legislative Body

One question we get asked often this time of year is: “How many public hearings are required for the budget process?" This post reviews the requirements.

Sanctioning Rogue Board Members

October 8, 2019 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Legislative Body

This post looks at how a board can sanction a member that repeatedly disrupts the work — and progress — of that governing body.

Cyber Plans: What to Do If Your System Is Attacked

October 4, 2019 by Laura Crandall
Category: Cybersecurity

This blog is the first installment of a 2-part series on cybersecurity preparation, with a focus on the most popular ways criminals are using to gain access to systems and how to plan for a service interruption.

Long-Term Care Trust Act Brings Services and Support to Washington Residents

September 27, 2019 by Paul Sullivan
Category: Compensation , New Legislation and Regulations

The newly created Long-Term Care Trust Act will offer an employee-financed program to provide payment or partial payment for long-term services and support to qualified Washington residents who have paid into the program and need assistance.

Preparing for and Responding to Emergencies: 2019 Legislation

September 26, 2019 by Sarah Doar
Category: Emergency Management , New Legislation and Regulations

This blog post looks at SB 5514, HB 1147, and SB 5012, three pieces of recent legislation that address how local governments and law enforcement should respond during active emergencies.

Shake It Up: Local Governments and Earthquake Preparedness

September 23, 2019 by Nina Forbes
Category: Emergency Management

This blog post offers concrete strategies that local governments in Washington can take to prepare for an earthquake, as well as plan for the post-recovery period.

Food Waste Reduction and Sustainable Recycling: New Legislation

September 19, 2019 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: New Legislation and Regulations , Utilities

Two recent pieces of legislation, E2SHB 1114 and ESSHB 1543, are aimed at reducing food waste and creating support for long-term, sustainable recycling programs across the state.

Want Better Teamwork? Take More Breaks

September 16, 2019 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Performance Management-Measurement

A recent study suggests that team members in problem-solving groups need time alone as well as face-to-face meetings to get the best possible group results.

IPD Set to Exceed 1% for Setting 2020 Property Taxes

September 10, 2019 by Toni Nelson
Category:

The rate of inflation on the implicit price deflator for personal consumption expenditures over the past 12 months is 1.396%, meaning local governments may levy the full 1% increase or bank it for future use.

New Ruling Addresses the Extent of the "Public Records" Definition

September 5, 2019 by Flannary Collins
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Public Records Act

A new decision from the Washington State Supreme Court addresses the extent of the “Public Records” definition, which now provides more clarity for local governments.

Key Takeaways from the AWC Budget and Finance Management Workshop

September 4, 2019 by Mike Bailey
Category: Budgets and Budgeting , Financial Management

This blog covers some key financial management takeaways from the 2019 Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Budgeting and Financial Management Workshop.