Local governments and the services they offer to the public exist to serve citizens. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly one in five citizens lives with some type of disability. Slightly more than 18% of U.S. citizens have some type of disability that impairs their online access. These citizens reside within your local government boundaries and they need access to your local government website to get information, to work and to communicate. Accessibility laws mandate certain accessibility law standards that assure that governments provide web content that every citizen can easily … [Read more...] about How Your Local Government Can Ensure Compliance With U.S. Accessibility Requirements

Without a doubt, one of the most important documents in local government is the budget. The annual budget gives citizens their first impression of their local government’s priorities, as the budget reflects the government’s strategy, vision and priorities. Local governments spend the most money and invest the bulk of their time on their top identified issues. It’s not always easy to inspire the public’s trust in their local government. The integrity of the budget process helps to build or diminish trust between citizens, department leaders and elected officials. Each of them expects to see … [Read more...] about 5 Easy Budgeting Strategies for Local Government Success

If you’ve made a personal commitment to saving energy and maintaining a greener earth, you might also consider the benefits of bringing some of those habits and practices into your local government office. The Greening Household Behaviour survey by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed that almost one in five households said they weren’t even aware of what recycling collection services were available in their area. That’s a pretty good indication that we can all do a better job of being environmentally friendly at home and at work. While there are plenty … [Read more...] about 4 Simple Ways for Governments to Be More Environmentally Friendly

Local governments are accountable to multiple entities and individuals, which is important to the concept of democracy. Local citizens faithfully pay their taxes to support their local government with the expectation that their local government will provide them with the services they need to be a healthy and productive part of the community. Operational accountability serves as the middle ground for financial and political accountability. While operational accountability isn’t quite as well understood as the other two, it’s a key issue that drives performance budgeting. Performance … [Read more...] about How to Approach Local Government Budgeting Effectively

The leadership roles in local government are largely based on the needs of the community. Some of the departments in smaller communities may be combined into one. Certain leadership roles, such as those in police departments, fire departments, school districts and conservation departments, may be shared between several local governments, township governments or county governments. Following is a brief outline of key leadership roles in local government, along with a brief description of how they serve their communities. Administration Offices The administration offices house several of … [Read more...] about Understanding Key Leadership Roles in Local Government