After a grueling budget season, the county board of commissioners has cut, and cut, and cut. The board members have come to the conclusion that, to avoid serious diminution in services, they must increase revenue. The next step is to put the local option sales tax on the ballot and hope that they can convince the citizens of the need to approve it. Meanwhile, the city council, facing the same budget woes, has decided to cut back on library and other popular services, and charge or increase fees for things like recreational programs.
Author Archives: School of Government ITD Applications Team
After a grueling budget season, the county board of commissioners has cut, and cut, and cut. The board members have come to the conclusion that, to avoid serious diminution in services, they must increase revenue. The next step is to put the local option sales tax on the ballot and hope that they can convince the citizens of the need to approve it. Meanwhile, the city council, facing the same budget woes, has decided to cut back on library and other popular services, and charge or increase fees for things like recreational programs.
UPDATE August 2013: For updated information on the public school funding dispute resolution process, click here. In my last post, I reviewed the constitutional and statutory framework for county funding of local school administrative units (public schools).
UPDATE August 2013: For updated information on the public school funding dispute resolution process, click here. In my last post, I reviewed the constitutional and statutory framework for county funding of local school administrative units (public schools).
UPDATE November 2013: In 2010 the General Assembly enacted substantial changes to the personnel records privacy statutes discussed in this post, but those changes do not affect the analysis in the post. The city manager enters a written contract of employment with the city council. The school superintendent has a written contract. So does the county manager. Are these contracts open for public inspection? Is any governmental employment contract open? Does a curious citizen, or the local newspaper, have the right to see and copy the contract? The answer has to be Yes,
UPDATE November 2013: In 2010 the General Assembly enacted substantial changes to the personnel records privacy statutes discussed in this post, but those changes do not affect the analysis in the post. The city manager enters a written contract of employment with the city council. The school superintendent has a written contract. So does the county manager. Are these contracts open for public inspection? Is any governmental employment contract open? Does a curious citizen, or the local newspaper, have the right to see and copy the contract? The answer has to be Yes,
It is budget season. And, once again, local government officials face tough decisions about how to balance their annual budgets—Raise taxes and fees? Curtail services? Delay projects? Cut personnel?
It is budget season. And, once again, local government officials face tough decisions about how to balance their annual budgets—Raise taxes and fees? Curtail services? Delay projects? Cut personnel?
With apologies to The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, the title of this post accurately summarizes my usual response when asked about the consequences facing a local government that fails to deliver
With apologies to The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, the title of this post accurately summarizes my usual response when asked about the consequences facing a local government that fails to deliver