City councils
Larimore, a small town in North Dakota, has found itself in the midst of controversy following the firing of its police chief, Steven Jones, due to safety concerns. According to Mayor Marvin Denault, Jones' termination was not related to his performance or racial background, but rather a precautionary measure
City councils
As the city of Toledo faces a $10.6 million deficit in its proposed $241.7 million budget, the Democrats on the City Council are split over who should hold the presidency, a position that could become crucial due to Mayor Finkbeiner's health issues. Councilwoman Wilma Brown and
City councils
Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) chairman Ma Ying-jeou yesterday stepped down as Taipei mayor to focus solely on party affairs, amidst criticism for dividing his time between the municipal government and party duties. His decision comes as the KMT scored significant victories in the council elections in Taiwan&
City councils
Wheaton City Council meetings have become increasingly contentious, with some speakers making personal attacks against council members, including Mayor Jim Carr. In response, Carr issued new guidelines for public comment, but critics argue that they infringe on free speech. Terry Pastika, executive director of Citizen Advocacy Center, warns that the
City councils
Lima, Ohio's mayor, David Berger, has submitted a 2007 budget that forecasts a bleak financial situation for the city. The $29 million budget includes a 3% reduction in labor costs, a $150,000 capital budget, and a projected unencumbered cash balance of $200,000 by the end of
City councils
A fierce dispute has erupted between Durham City Council and Sunderland Council over plans to build 3,430 new homes by 2021. The row has sparked concerns that it will put Sunderland's economy at risk and exacerbate out-migration of residents. Sunderland's planning chiefs claim that Durham&
City councils
Rochester's City Council has passed a plan to fund sewer system upgrades by increasing the hookup charge for new homes and raising monthly sewer bills for households. The plan, approved on a 6-1 vote, will raise the new-home hookup charge to $2,500 by 2009, while increasing the
City councils
The Jacksonville Beach City Council expressed support for a "fair share" measure, which would require developers to improve road capacity if their projects generate excessive traffic. However, several council members requested more information before voting on the measure on December 18. The city's planning department is
City councils
The Lima City Council's Finance Committee has approved several tax code changes to make the city's tax code consistent with state and federal law. The changes, requested by the administration, aim to address issues such as taxation of Ohio Lottery winnings, minimum tax collection and refund
City councils
Voters in Rogers, a city of 6,000 residents northwest of the Twin Cities, have rejected the city's long-standing practice of offering public subsidies to businesses. The backlash against the city's use of tax-increment financing, a subsidy tool that captures property taxes to help pay for
City councils
Glasgow City Council's bid to introduce a new pay and benefits package for 28,500 workers has been met with resistance from the GMB union. Despite a 52-47% vote to reject the offer by members who participated in a consultative ballot, the low return rate of just 25%
City councils
The Madison City Council has approved a $210.8 million operating budget for 2007, a 3.67 percent increase over the previous year. The budget includes a 3.75 percent property tax increase on the average home price of $239,449, with the total property tax revenue increasing by 5.
