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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for January 2026

Got Waste? What to Know About the New System for Annual Dangerous Waste Reports Due March 1

January 28, 2026  by  Stacy Fox ,  Julie Nicoll
Category:  Guest Author ,  Environmental Laws and Regulations ,  Hazardous Materials and Substances

Beginning March 1, annual dangerous waste reports must be submitted on a new online platform. Learn how these changes will impact dangerous waste reporting and recordkeeping for your public agency.

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Taking a Break: A Primer on Legal and Other Holidays

January 26, 2026  by  MRSC Insight
Category:  Leave Policies

How do holidays impact local government? Which holidays must an agency observe? Will offices be closed? Will it include paid time off for staff? To answer these questions, a public agency should make its holiday schedule and policies around holidays readily available.

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Hidden in Plain Sight: Activating Urban Alleys

January 21, 2026  by  Lisa Pool
Category:  Streets and Sidewalks ,  Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Programs ,  Downtown Revitalization Series

Activating alleys is a revitalization strategy that carries the possibility of strengthening local economies, enhancing safety, supporting arts and culture, and aligning with statewide planning goals. How are Washington cities transforming these underutilized spaces?

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Quick Ways to Reduce Stress (and Get Back to Giving Your Best)

January 20, 2026  by  Melanie Harding
Category:  Administrative and Elected Officials

Working for or serving as an elected official with a local government can be stressful—with pressures unique to the job. How can a staffmember or elected official manage stress to make sure it doesn't impact their work life, even when times are challenging?

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Updates for the 2025 Annual Financial Report

January 14, 2026  by  Eric Lowell
Category:  Financial Reporting

Good news for local government finance staff—there are no new GASB reporting standards for reporting year 2025. That said, there are other updates to the BARS manual that should be noted. 

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PRA 2025 – A Year in Flux

January 12, 2026  by  Sarah Doar
Category:  Public Records Act

For anyone who follows public records news, here is a round-up of 2025 topics that raised a lot of questions, some of which might be addressed in 2026—including artificial intelligence, a model rules update, and whether FLOCK license plate reader data is a public record.

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Contracting Keys: ACT to Award Local Government Agency Contracts

January 7, 2026  by  Josh Klika
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting

What are the key essentials for a local government to act on when it comes to contracting for public works projects or to acquire equipment, supplies, and services through purchase, rental, or lease agreements with businesses?

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Staying in Office: Tips for Elected Officials

January 6, 2026  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  Newly Elected and Appointed Officials

You've been elected, congratulations! As you begin this journey, here are some resources you may want to check out regarding the statutory requirements for elected officials in Washington State.

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