Residents ask Audit & Finance Committee to probe alleged $25 million mitigation payment routed to nonprofit Public commenters urged the Audit & Finance Committee to open or support a citizen audit into an alleged $25 million TxDOT mitigation payment they say was directed to a private nonprofit and bypassed city review; staff did not take formal action on the allegation at the meeting.

Allegations have surfaced that a former parks director funneled $25 million in public funds to a private nonprofit without proper oversight, sparking calls for a formal audit.

Click to read more!

#AustinTravisCounty #TX #EthicalGovernance #AustinParks #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency

Senate passes large statutory cleanup bill described by sponsor as "taking out the trash" Senate substitute for Senate Bill 8 89, a statute‑cleanup measure described by its sponsor as removing expired, terminated and obsolete statutes, passed on third reading after the sponsor called it small in intent but nearly 400 pages; recorded vote 28–1.

The Missouri Senate just passed a "small" bill that's nearly 400 pages long, aimed at cleaning up outdated laws—sounds like it's time to take out the legislative trash!

Click to read more!

#MO #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #MissouriLegislation #GovernmentTransparency #StatutoryCleanup

Washington Legislature adjourns sine die, concluding 2026 regular session Majority Leader Fitzgibbon moved and the legislature agreed to adjourn sine die on March 12, 2026; the journal for the day was approved and the session concluded with no objection recorded on the floor transcript.

The Washington State Legislature has officially wrapped up its 2026 regular session, marking a significant moment in political history.

Read the full story

#WA #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #LegislativeProcess #GovernmentTransparency

Senate concurs on SSB 6,003, advances resolutions and adjourns sine die On March 12, the Senate concurred in House amendments to substitute Senate Bill 6,003 and passed it unanimously (49‑0), advanced multiple resolutions (including SCR 8,410 and SR 8,701), adopted HCR 4,409 to adjourn sine die, and the Senate formally adjourned the 2026 regular session.

The Washington State Senate made history by unanimously passing Senate Bill 6,003 and officially adjourning the 2026 regular session, marking a significant milestone in legislative progress.

Learn more here!

#WA #CivicParticipation #CitizenPortal #LegislativeProcess #GovernmentTransparency

House rejects Senate amendments to HB 932 (recodification of Title 30) and sends measure to conference HB 932, a recodification of Title 30 pertaining to the General Assembly and its entities, faced Senate amendments that the House rejected to secure conference. Delegate Simon said the Senate stripped earlier House amendments and added a reenactment clause; the House rejected the Senate amendments to send the bill to conference.

The House has officially rejected the Senate's amendments to House Bill 932, paving the way for crucial conference negotiations on this significant legislative recodification!

Learn more here

#VA #LegislativeReform #CivicParticipation #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency

House appoints conferees for more than 170 bills ahead of conference deadline Clerk announced conferee appointments for hundreds of House and companion Senate bills as deadline day approaches; members were urged to check LIS for assignments and lead conferee responsibilities. The House agreed to multiple Senate requests and insisted on its amendments where the Senate had rejected them.

The House has officially appointed conferees for over 170 bills just as the conference deadline looms, making crucial decisions that could shape legislation in Virginia.

Learn more here

#VA #CivicParticipation #CitizenPortal #VirginiaHouse #LegislativeProcess #GovernmentTransparency

Committee deadlocks on bill limiting agency discovery in AG-led cases after contentious testimony A 7–7 roll-call left HF3656 (which would limit agency discovery when the Attorney General sues on behalf of the public) laid over after members expressed both support for reducing agency burdens and concern about records availability and unintended consequences; public testimony included an unproven allegation against the Attorney General.

A contentious hearing over a bill that could reshape how the Attorney General handles agency litigation has left Minnesota lawmakers divided and questioning the balance between efficiency and transparency.

Read the full story

#MN #JudicialReview #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency

Lincoln County commissioners approve vacating remaining Berton Townsite parcels and sign contract authorizations The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners approved multiple consent items Oct. 18, including vacating remaining portions of the Berton Townsite pending surveys and recording, authorizing a Magellan Rx Schedule D addendum, and signing a WYDOT cooperative agreement for a federal road project.

Lincoln County commissioners have taken significant steps to vacate the Berton Townsite and streamline county operations with new contracts—what's next for this historic area?

Learn more here

#LincolnCounty #WY #CitizenPortal #CommunityDevelopment #LandUsePlanning #GovernmentTransparency

Coffee County approves 2021 millage rates after clean audit After receiving a clean FY2020 audit, the Coffee County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 7 approved a county millage rate of 8.247 mills and ratified the Coffee County Board of Education's 16.019-mill rate; both votes were unanimous.

Coffee County is celebrating a clean audit and has set its millage rates for 2021, with unanimous approvals from the board!

Read the full story

#CoffeeCounty #GA #CoffeeCountyEducation #CitizenPortal #CommunityFinance #GovernmentTransparency #FiscalResponsibility

Simpson County awards $2.64 million contract for new County Clerk and PVA building Simpson County Fiscal Court on July 2 unanimously approved a $2.64 million contract with Sunbelt Construction to build a combined County Clerk and Property Valuation Administrator (PVA) office; the court authorized signatures and heard questions from the project architect before voting.

Simpson County is set to break ground on a new combined County Clerk and Property Valuation Administrator building after awarding a $2.64 million contract to Sunbelt Construction!

Click to read more!

#SimpsonCounty #KY #CitizenPortal #InfrastructureDevelopment #GovernmentTransparency

Minnehaha County sets elected officials’ salaries; raises take effect in January The Minnehaha County Commission on Dec. 15 adopted Resolution MC20-79 setting minimum base salaries for newly elected county officials and updated pay rates for current elected department heads, effective Jan. 4, 2021.

Minnehaha County is stepping up for its elected officials by raising salaries to reflect their vital roles, with new minimums set to take effect on January 4, 2021.

Click to read more!

#MinnehahaCounty #SD #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #PublicService #GovernmentTransparency

Whitfield County commissioners approve door-to-door solicitation ordinance, contracts and rezoning; reallocate $110,186 in ARPA funds At the Nov. 10 meeting in Dalton the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners approved a second-reading ordinance on door-to-door solicitation (effective Jan. 1, 2026), ratified a $1,557,354 contract for Praters Mill site work, reallocated $110,186.17 in ARPA funds and approved multiple rezoning requests.

The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners just made major moves, from passing a new door-to-door solicitation ordinance to approving over $1.5 million in contracts for local improvements!

Click to read more!

#WhitfieldCounty #GA #CitizenPortal #CommunityDevelopment #GovernmentTransparency

Madison County Board appoints Adam Walden as county engineer amid dissent over process and cost The Madison County Board voted 20–7 on Feb. 17 to appoint Adam Walden county engineer for a six-year term at $129,400, prompting objections from several board members who said a more experienced candidate was bypassed and questioned the timing given fiscal pressures.

The Madison County Board's controversial appointment of Adam Walden as county engineer has sparked a fierce debate over experience, timing, and taxpayer costs.

Get the details!

#MadisonCounty #IL #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #GovernmentTransparency

Committee hears resolution urging accounting for state voter data handed to DOJ House staff presented HJR 43, which urges the Division of Elections to seek a detailed accounting from the U.S. Department of Justice about how Alaska's transmitted voter data is stored, who has access, and when it will be destroyed; committee members flagged a discrepancy in the number of records and requested follow-up from Department of Administration.

Alaska's legislature is taking a stand for voter privacy, demanding accountability for the state's sensitive voter data handed to the DOJ amid rising concerns over its protection.

Learn more here!

#AK #CivicAccountability #AlaskaVoterPrivacy #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency #DataProtection

Josephine County temporary board names Dustin Calvo chair and sets expedited application timeline for two commissioner vacancies At a Jan. 29 special meeting, the Josephine County Temporary Board nominated and approved Dustin Calvo as chair and voted to restart and post applications for two vacant county commissioner seats via NEOgov, setting review and interview dates in February.

Dustin Calvo has been appointed chair of the Josephine County Temporary Board, launching an expedited search for two vital county commissioner seats!

Click to read more!

#JosephineCounty #OR #CivicAccountability #LeadershipDevelopment #GovernmentTransparency

Coffee County OKs $18 million and $500,000 contract increases for Hurricane Helene debris removal The Coffee County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved two contract amendments May 5, 2025, increasing debris‑removal spending after Hurricane Helene: Southern Disaster Recovery by $18,000,000 (to a cap of $43,962,950.20) and Debris Tech, LLC by $500,000 (to $8,500,000).

Coffee County commissioners have just approved a staggering $18 million increase for Hurricane Helene debris cleanup, raising the total contract with Southern Disaster Recovery to nearly $44 million!

Get the details!

#CoffeeCounty #GA #CitizenPortal #DisasterResponse #GovernmentTransparency

Cheatham County names MBI as architect for jail renovations; commissioners approve related contracts and EMS lease amid questions over extra hourly fees The Cheatham County Legislative Body approved MBI Companies as architect for the county jail renovation and authorized the mayor to sign related agreements including a Stryker ProCare services contract and a lease with Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department for EMS space. Two commissioners voted no on the package, citing concerns about extra hourly rates.

Cheatham County takes a big step toward jail renovations by approving MBI Companies as the architect, but not without some dissent over additional fees!

Click to read more!

#CheathamCounty #TN #CommunityInvolvement #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #GovernmentTransparency

Coffee County approves revised pay system for Waycross Judicial Circuit judges The Coffee County Board of Commissioners on March 26, 2025 unanimously adopted a revised Resolution establishing a system of payment for services by Superior Court Judges of the Waycross Judicial Circuit, removing contractual obligations and correcting a compensation schedule in Exhibit A.

Coffee County has officially revamped its payment system for Superior Court Judges, ensuring fair compensation and eliminating previous contractual issues.

Read the full story

#CoffeeCounty #GA #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency #JudicialReform #PublicPolicy

County panel approves $690,105 renewal for jail health services amid liability concerns The committee approved a $690,105 renewal with Advanced Correctional Healthcare for jail medical services — a $208,122 increase over the current contract — while asking the sheriff’s administration to seek alternatives and to check the contract opt‑out clause.

Chippewa County's Finance Committee just approved a staggering $690,105 contract for jail medical services, raising alarms over new liability issues and costs!

Get the details!

#ChippewaCounty #MI #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency

Franklin County approves $96.4 million 2019–20 budget and fixes property‑tax levy The Franklin County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 19, 2019 approved the county's FY2019–20 appropriation resolution, adopting a combined appropriation schedule with total appropriations of approximately $96.4 million and setting the county's property‑tax levy for the year. The vote on the appropriations passed 11–3–1.

Franklin County has officially adopted a $96.4 million budget for 2019-2020, setting the stage for how your tax dollars will be spent!

Get the details

#FranklinCounty #TN #FranklinCountyBudget #CitizenPortal #PropertyTax #GovernmentTransparency #FiscalResponsibility

Joint commissions vote to file appeal, retain Attorney King after closed-session consultation After a closed-session attorney consultation under NDCC 44-04-19.1(9), Morton and Burleigh county commissioners voted Dec. 12 to file an appeal in ongoing litigation and to retain Attorney King as counsel; the minutes record the motion passed with "All voting aye."

Morton and Burleigh county commissioners have decided to file an appeal in an ongoing legal battle, retaining Attorney King for further counsel after a closed-door session.

Click to read more!

#MortonCounty #ND #LegalConsultation #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency #LitigationStrategy

West Virginia Senate approves broad slate of bills, including multiple supplemental appropriations On March 10, 2026, the West Virginia Senate passed a long list of bills and a series of supplemental appropriations across multiple agencies, with recorded roll-call votes on many items; sponsors repeatedly urged passage and several measures were made effective from passage.

The West Virginia Senate just greenlit a sweeping package of supplemental appropriations that could reshape state agency funding for 2026!

Learn more here

#WV #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency #WestVirginiaSenate #PublicPolicy #FiscalResponsibility

Senate committee advances lottery governance bill but records show negative committee recommendation on onward referral Senator Roberts presented a measure to reconstitute the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation’s board and to increase transparency; the corporation’s chair defended long-term contracts, and after procedural confusion the committee moved the bill to State and Local with a recorded negative recommendation.

Senator Roberts is pushing for a major overhaul of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation's governance, but a committee's mixed response raises questions about its future.

Click to read more!

#TN #CitizenPortal #TennesseeEducation #EducationFunding #GovernmentTransparency

Labor commissioner seeks staff, technology to speed unemployment claims and shore up fund oversight Georgia Department of Labor asked for staff and technology investments — including dozens of call‑center and audit positions — to modernize UI services, improve collections and address infrastructure needs; the department reported the UI trust fund at about $1.99 billion, short of federal solvency guidance.

Georgia's Labor Commissioner is pushing for urgent staffing and technology upgrades to revolutionize unemployment services and tackle a $1.99 billion trust fund shortfall.

Click to read more!

#GA #CitizenPortal #WorkforceInvestment #UnemploymentReform #GovernmentTransparency #GeorgiaLabor

Senator from Jefferson seeks to ‘clean up’ Missouri statutes; Senate orders substitute printed Sen. from Jefferson presented a 400‑plus page senate substitute that strips obsolete citations, repeals expired reporting requirements and removes references to repealed statutes; sponsor described it as non‑controversial housekeeping and the chamber declared the substitute perfected and ordered it printed.

A Missouri senator is spearheading a major overhaul of outdated laws, aiming to streamline and clarify the state's statutes for a more efficient legal framework.

Learn more here!

#MO #CivicAccountability #LegislativeReform #MissouriStatutes #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency

Senate reads and signs supplemental appropriations substitute for House Bill 20-14 The Senate read at length a Senate substitute for the Senate committee substitute for House Bill 20-14, a supplemental appropriations measure, and signed it so it may become law after no objections were voiced on the floor.

The Senate has officially moved forward with House Bill 20-14, paving the way for vital funding across state departments without a single objection!

Learn more here

#MO #CitizenPortal #LegislativeProcess #MissouriGovernment #PublicFinance #GovernmentTransparency

House OKs reporting requirements for tax-increment and public finance tools Lawmakers approved a measure to require reporting and a central repository for public-finance tools (PIDs, TIFs, CRAs), including authorization-meeting documentation, a 'but‑for' analysis and 40‑year cash-flow projections to the STATS program starting Jan. 1, 2027.

Utah lawmakers have taken a bold step toward transparency in public finance, requiring detailed reporting on tax increment financing and other tools starting in 2027!

Learn more here

#UT #CivicAccountability #CitizenPortal #PublicFinanceReform #GovernmentTransparency

Board of Equalization introduces new chief communications officer The BOE introduced John Taylor as its new chief communications officer; Taylor highlighted plans to use analytics to improve Prop 19 outreach and other public guidance.

The Board of Equalization has appointed John Taylor as their new chief communications officer, and he’s on a mission to simplify complex tax rules and enhance public understanding of Prop 19!

Click to read more!

#CA #CitizenPortal #GovernmentTransparency

Commissioners approve routine consent items, contracts, grants and policy changes; one funding amendment passes 3–2 The Williamson County Commissioners Court approved consent items and a series of contracts, grant-authority requests, and policy updates on March 10, 2026. Most motions passed unanimously; an amendment requiring unused funds to be returned to the county passed 3–2 on a district-attorney-related transfer.

Williamson County Commissioners made significant strides on March 10, approving key contracts, grants, and a policy change that enhances emergency response capabilities.

Learn more here

#WilliamsonCounty #TX #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #WilliamsonCountyEmergencyManagement #GovernmentTransparency

Senate clears multiple bills on consent calendar; HB 10-13 passes 23-12 On March 10 the Colorado Senate passed several bills on the third-reading consent calendar, confirmed appointments, and recorded a controversial 23-12 vote on House Bill 10-13 concerning ratio utility billing systems.

The Colorado Senate made waves by passing multiple bills and narrowly approving the contentious House Bill 10-13, which could change how landlords bill tenants for utilities.

Click to read more!

#CO #CitizenPortal #PublicPolicy #UtilityBilling #GovernmentTransparency