About MRSC
Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) is a private, nonprofit organization based in Washington. Our mission is to promote excellence in Washington local government through professional consultation, research, and information services.
Visit our website at: http://www.mrsc.org
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Recent Posts
- How May the Revenues from the Sales Tax Authorized for Rural Counties in RCW 82.14.370 Be Used?
- The Sun Is Still Shining: Most Uses of Lodging Tax Revenues are Preserved
- Disqualification: Keeping Unqualified Persons off the Ballot
- What will MRSC be in the future? Update on MRSC’s Strategic Planning Process
- New Public Procurement Laws Approved in 2013 Legislative Session
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Author Archives: Lynn Nordby
Making a Difference
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 not just a job…” … Continue reading
Posted in Best Practices, Management, Personnel
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When One Budget Closes Another One Opens (But Where’s the Cash?)
It may seem too soon to be discussing budget questions on how to deal with your ending cash balance, or maybe too late; but, we’re still asked about the proper way to handle some of the uncertainty around prognosticating how much … Continue reading
Posted in Finance, Policy
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Employee Satisfaction: What Goes Around Comes Around
Happy employees are goodwill ambassadors for your brand, whether it’s selling a product or delivering public service.
Posted in Best Practices, General, Management, Personnel
Be Sure You’re Right, Then Go Ahead (Management lessons from Davy Crockett)
“Be sure you’re right, then go ahead” This quote was attributed to Davy Crockett in the 1950s Disney television series. It was a simple moral lesson for the young viewers in the audience absorbed in watching once a week the … Continue reading
Posted in General, Management
The Three Envelopes
Early in my career, I heard the only actual city manager joke I can recall. It tells the story of a young assistant about to accept his first position as a city manager. He meets with the former manager and … Continue reading
Posted in General, Management, Personnel
Close Enough for Government Work
There are always words or catch phrases that capture people’s imaginations and seem to be just the right shorthand to express a thought or make a point. After a while though, they simply lose their impact through overuse and are … Continue reading
Posted in Civic Engagement, Management
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Getting What You Want Through Foresight and Creativity
You can’t always get what you want But if you try sometimes, you just might find You get what you need. So sang The Rolling Stones. I have found that sometimes you can get what you want, and what you … Continue reading
Posted in Best Practices, General, Management
Big Results with a Small Gesture
Sometimes only a small gesture of appreciation can generate lasting benefits. The study session with the city council seemed to last forever. I had prepared a report on a policy issue involving one of the utilities owned and operated by … Continue reading
Posted in Best Practices, Management, Personnel
LED Streetlighting – Shedding Light on the Subject
At a recent meeting of city managers from King County and Snohomish County, representatives from Seattle City Light and the city of Shoreline presented information about the move to convert street lighting from the orange glow of high-pressure sodium we’ve … Continue reading
A Conversation with Fred Jarrett Part 2: Lean Principles
Dow Constantine came into office as the King County Executive in 2010 with an ambitious reform agenda that was quickly set in motion through the county’s new strategic plan and some key staffing changes, including the creation of an Office … Continue reading
Posted in Management
