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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for August 2020

Implicit Price Deflator Falls Below 1% for Setting 2021 Property Taxes

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

The IPD inflation rate for 2019-2020 is 0.60152%, which means local governments with a population of 10,000 or more may not increase next year's property tax levies more than that rate unless they adopt a resolution or ordinance of substantial need.

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Washington Enacts Statewide Plastic Bag Ban

August 27, 2020  by  Aly Jones
Category:  Environmental Laws and Regulations ,  New Legislation and Regulations

This blog post provides an overview of ESSB 5323, which bans Washington-based retail establishments from providing single-use, plastic carryout bags.

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Locating Good Data for Your Revenue Forecasting

August 21, 2020  by  Mike Bailey
Category:  COVID-19 ,  Revenues

Traditional approaches to revenue forecasting will not be sufficient during the COVID-19 pandemic. This blog post explores where to find good data and get more accurate ways to predict future revenues. 

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Living in Vehicles: How Homestead Rights Affect Municipal Impounds

August 17, 2020  by  Oskar Rey
Category:  Homelessness

This blog post suggests that local government impound procedures should be reviewed to ensure that these don't impede upon the 'homestead rights' of people living out of their vehicles. 

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Election Season Rules – Does COVID-19 Change the Game?

August 10, 2020  by  Steve Gross
Category:  COVID-19 ,  Elections and Voting

Can an employee post a political sign in their home office? Should elected officials take part in PSA's? This blog explores how standard rules governing what government resources can and cannot be used for during campaign season, and how these rules apply during the pandemic. 

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts in Washington State

August 6, 2020  by  Laura Crandall
Category:  Inclusive Communities

This blog post offers an overview of how some Washington State local governments have approached efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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