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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for April 2013

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More Sage Advice for Councils and Commissions

April 22, 2013  by  Byron Katsuyama
Category:  Legislative Body

MRSC has been fortunate to have so many generous Council/Commission, HR, Finance, Planning, and Open Government Advisors over the years who have been willing to share their time and expertise writing columns filled with insightful analysis and sage advice for Washington local government officials and...

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A macro shot of the word "Inspire" from the dictionary

Making a Difference

April 19, 2013  by  Lynn Nordby
Category:  Leadership

I've always held the opinion that most of my colleagues in public management and, indeed most public employees, are generally motivated by a call to service. To borrow from an old U.S. Army recruiting slogan, “It's...

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Vintage Bond - Background

Be Aware and Beware of Interest Rate Risk

April 11, 2013  by  Judy Cox
Category:  Financial Management

Last November, the Office of the State Treasurer published a memo titled “Looking for Yield in a Low Rate Environment: Risks to Avoid.” Five months later, we still have a “low rate environment,” and the advice given in that...

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Caseload Limits for Indigent Defense Standards Delayed Until January 1, 2015

April 10, 2013  by  Bob Meinig
Category:  Courts and Criminal Justice System

As part of the new Standards for Indigent Defense, caseload limits were to take effect on September 1, 2013, while the rest of the standards took effect on October 1, 2012. However, the state supreme court has now delayed the implementation of caseload limits until January 1, 2015, to provide time for the Washington State Office of Public Defense to conduct a "statewide attorney time study" and...

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How Are Abstentions Handled When Counting Votes?

April 4, 2013  by  Pat Mason
Category:  Legislative Body

Sometimes a member of a local governing body (such as a city council, board of county commissioners, planning commission, or special district board) does not, for whatever reason, want to cast a vote on a matter that is being considered by that body, and so that member abstains. Assuming that the governing body allows the member to abstain, how is that abstention treated for vote counting...

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