MUNICIPAL FINANCE CHALLENGES

AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

In the academy, seasoned elected officials share their experience. Experts from municipalities lecture on the flow of a zoning application from an advisory board to a board of appeals to a council for final vote.

“We try to teach you the nuts and bolts of running for office — polling data reading, putting a team together and strategy for campaigning,” Josh Dix, consulting advisor to CTAR’s CEO, said.

“We also explain how parliamentary procedure works. If you want to be on a board or commission, parliamentary is a key tool.”

 

 

MUNICIPAL FINANCE CHALLENGES

AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

The Civic Leaders Academy in greater Charleston features classes of about 15 to 20 professionals learning about land use and planning practices.

The first class graduated in 2021.

One course session is a trip to Columbia to meet with legislators and heads of key state departments.

Participants learn about financing, policy and how land-use decisions can sometimes wind up in the court system.

The class is educating land-use decision-makers to vote based on sound planning.

“We were having a hard time when projects came to the planning commission or council. There really wasn’t a REALTOR® voice in those projects.

Projects were approved or denied for reasons that were not justified,” said Josh Dix, consulting advisor to CTAR’s CEO.

MUNICIPAL FINANCE CHALLENGES

AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

In South Carolina, The Civic Leaders Academy teaches participants about the government’s role in community development, economic prosperity, transportation and infrastructure.

The Charleston Trident Association of REALTORS® (CTAR), the Charleston Home Builders Association and the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce partnered to create a knowledge base that prepares active community members for elected office, as well as appointments to planning and advisory boards.

 

 

 

 

MUNICIPAL FINANCE CHALLENGES

AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

Kim Rueben, formerly a senior advisor, Fiscal Systems at the Lincoln Institute,  said some cities will look to Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to build transit stops, capturing the increased value around the station and dedicating it to paying off bonds that funded the transit extension.

She said some areas are looking at a series of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) to fund some capital costs, but it may be difficult to convince property owners to the additional self-taxing that comes via a BID, as those may be downtown businesses already hurting from the shift to remote work and hybrid work from home.

MARK BOOKMAN’S DISABILITY ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH LIVES

DISABILITY PUBLICS-MAKING ACCESSIBILITY IN MODERN JAPAN

The late Mark Bookman's disability forward work will live forever.

Oxford University Press published his Disability Publics--Making Accessibility in Modern Japan.

I was honored to appear as a Universal Design expert in the documentary “Mark - A Call to Action"

Created by award-winning filmmaker Ron Small, the 90 minute feature film is both a lesson in progressive disability advocacy as well as an energizing father son love story.

Mark thrived in Japan because of an incredibly supportive and loving family.

I have met his wonderful family.

I hope they are comforted in the knowledge that though his life was short -- his brilliance will help people with disabilities for an eternity. 

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/disability-publics-9780198979739?cc=us&lang=en&

MUNICIPAL FINANCE CHALLENGES

AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

Kim Rueben, formerly a senior advisor, Fiscal Systems at the Lincoln Institute, said taxing the value of land independent of what is being built on top of it can provide a more stable flow of revenue.

She explained that many commercial buildings have lost value because they have vacancies due to the shift to remote work.

MUNICIPAL FINANCE CHALLENGES

AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy was founded to promote the Land value Return concept of public financing.

“Land value return is based on a simple core premise: public action should generate public benefit.

As challenges mount from rapid urbanization, deteriorating infrastructure, climate change, and more, this funding source has never been more important to the future of municipalities,”said the Germán-Bernstein brief titled “Land Value Return Tools to Finance Our Urban Future.”