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Budget Suggestions for 2009 (Jul 18)
MRSC's Budget Suggestions for 2009 (Adobe Acrobat Document 1.2 MB), MRSC Information Bulletin No. 531, is now available online. It contains budget calendars for cities and counties; summaries of 2008 legislation; revenue and inflation forecasts; and articles for those interested in city and county financial issues.

The Role of Transit in Emergency Evacuation (Jul 24)
A new report from the Transportation Research Board (TRB) explores the roles that transit systems can play in accommodating the evacuation, egress, and ingress of people from and to critical locations in times of emergency. More from the TRB.

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Budgeting for Capital Improvements

In this month's Finance Advisor column, Mike Bailey, Finance Director, City of Redmond, offers an overview of the capital improvement planning and budgeting process including a discussion of how it is affected by requirements in the state growth management act.
 

Diversity and the Changing Face of Suburbia (Jul 24)
American suburbs have grown so immense and diverse, now housing more than half the U.S. population, that no out-of-date stereotypes can capture their complexity, meaning or future direction. More from Next American City.

New Rules for Gas Distribution Pipelines (Jul 24)
The federal Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is in the final stages of a rulemaking process for integrity management rules for natural gas distribution systems. Cities that operate their own natural gas distribution systems need to pay attention to this issue. Cities served by small gas distribution companies might consider contacting them to make sure they are aware of the coming regulations.

Hybrid Police Patrol Vehicles Praised (Jul 24)
You’ve seen the headlines. Hybrids work! Hybrids save money! Hybrids save fuel, and hybrids reduce pollution! But you wonder, do they really? More from Public Management.

Will Employers Want Aging Boomers? (Jul 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.

Walk Score: Every Big-City Neighborhood in America (Jul 24)
Here it is … the largest 40 cities in America, ranked by their walkability. Plus, every single neighborhood in those cities -- all 2,508 of them -- rank-ordered for your walking pleasure. More from Sightline.

Older Cities Hold On to More People, Census Shows (Jul 24)
Newly released U.S. Census Bureau population data for U.S. cities show a new twist on a well-known theme that could be good news for older cities hoping to reverse population declines of the past. More from Brookings.

Ahead of the Curve (Jul 24)
Long before it was cool to be green, King County, Wash., Executive Ron Sims was interested in environmental issues. More from American City & County.

NATOA’s Broadband Principles (Jul 24)
The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) has published their concise “Broadband Principles,” outlining the need for a national broadband policy and for local governments to take all possible steps to provide fiber to the premises for their communities.

Local Governments in the News
Local Governments in the News by Subject or Month

Here are the latest news clippings from around the state highlighting current events, trends and other news affecting Washington city and county governments and special districts:

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