2013 Texas Municipal League Municipal Excellence Award Winners

Winners of the 2013 Texas Municipal League Municipal Excellence Awards were announced at the 2013 TML Annual Conference last week. Congratulations to all the winning cities: Aledo, Belton, Galveston, Grand Prairie, Kaufman, Nassau Bay, San Angelo, Seabrook, Tyler, University Park, and Webster.

To find out more about the 2013 winning projects and for information about the 2014 application process, visit TML Municipal Excellence Awards on the TML website.
 

U.S. Supreme Court Preview  Webinar

The State & Local Legal Center is hosting a free webinar on Tuesday, October 22, that will review U.S. Supreme Court cases of interest to state and local governments. For more information and to register, go to https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/731029418.

Join the SolutionsNet Listserv

Need some advice on starting a community garden? Interested in how other cities have structured their paid time off policy? Looking for a sample cell phone use policy? Wonder if other cities are outsourcing a particular position? Just ask. With SolutionsNet, you can reach out to other city officials and tap into their experience and expertise.

SolutionsNet is more than an ordinary listserv. It is a web-based communication system that allows you to ask questions, respond to inquiries, post documents, and search archived discussion threads. You can even customize what and how much information you receive in your email inbox. SolutionsNet is a complimentary service open to all TML member city officials. Join the SolutionsNet community today.

TML Career Center

The TML Career Center is the most frequently visited page on the TML website because it connects employers with potential employees. The section benefits both employers and job seekers with easy navigation, instant access to job postings, and complete and timely information. Any TML member city may post a job opportunity at no charge. Private sector companies may post job opportunities at a cost of $150 for a 30-day posting. For more information, visit the TML Career Center today.

TML Revenue Manual for Texas Cities 

Do you ever wonder if your city takes advantage of all the various revenue sources available to it? Do you wish you could lower your property tax rate, but can't find the funds to offset it? Are you afraid that you're missing something simple when it comes to revenues that every other city knows about, except you?

The TML Revenue Manual for Texas Cities covers everything you need to know, from the biggest sources of city revenue-property and sales taxes-on down to the most mundane and arcane-open records charges, raffles, even cemetery taxes.

The manual is organized alphabetically by revenue type and presented in an easy-to-understand, question-and-answer format, similar to the Legal Q&A column that's so popular in Texas Town & City. For each type of revenue, the basics are covered first-such as how the revenue source is adopted, who collects it, on what it can be spent, and so forth. More advanced material is included as well, such as strategic considerations about how particular sources of revenue interact with other taxes and fees, and how to switch from one revenue stream to another. The handbook should be useful to councilmembers, management, finance officers and staff, and city attorneys.

Order the TML Revenue Manual for Texas Cities now for only $10.

Get Social with TML

If you are on Twitter or Facebook, make sure you like and follow us! We utilize social media to connect with cities, city officials, volunteers, and citizens alike.

The Facebook page is used in a few different ways. It's used to promote the things that cities provide, like clean water, parks, public safety, and everything in between. It's also used as a fun way to connect with city officials and citizens, from interesting quotes to the Time Travel Through Texas, you will always find something fun posted! Like us on Facebook.

The Twitter account is used as a way to keep you informed about everything going on throughout the state. From events hosted by our member cities to workshops and the Annual Conference to the Legislative Session-Twitter is perfect for the busy city official, staff member, and legislator to stay informed! Follow us on Twitter.
  

So make sure you follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook. There will always be fresh, useful content!