Meeting Records Are the Most Requested. Are Yours Findable? Public records requests are at record levels — and they're not slowing down. Federal FOIA requests topped 1.5 million in fiscal year 2024, a 25 percent increase in a single year. Backlogs grew 33 percent. The average response time for a simple request stretched from 39 [...]
Managing clerk office workload is a year-round challenge — but June compresses it. Elections to prepare for, records requests to process, emergency plans to update, fiscal years to close, and summer vacations already pulling at staffing. For many clerks in smaller communities, those pressures land on a desk that also carries finance, human resources, and [...]
Each November, ClerkBase takes a delicious detour from our usual local government topics to celebrate a historic Thanksgiving recipe that connects us to America's past. This year, we're sharing Indian Pudding, a classic New England dessert with deep roots in Thanksgiving traditions. Indian Pudding dates back to colonial America, when settlers adapted British puddings by [...]
Roanoke, Va. is leading the way in efficient local government by modernizing its board and committee management with OnBoardGOV, a cutting-edge board management software solution. This move is making it easier than ever for city staff and residents to stay connected and involved in public service. Streamlining Board and Committee Management in Roanoke Roanoke has [...]
'tis the season to be jolly. As we gear up for the holiday season, it’s also time to remember that December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. With all the festivities, it’s important to keep our roads safe. Why It Matters Impaired driving is a big deal—accounting for nearly one-third of traffic fatalities in the [...]
Summer's here, and with it comes scorching temperatures. Municipal clerks are often the first point of contact for residents seeking information and assistance. Here are some tips to help them stay cool without cranking up the AC! Spreading the Cool Word: Public Cooling Centers: Compile a list of all public cooling centers in your municipality, [...]
For municipal clerks, protecting sensitive data is paramount. Excel is a popular tool for data management, but its accessibility can pose risks. Luckily, both Windows and Mac versions offer ways to safeguard your spreadsheets with password protection and additional "lock for editing" features. Protecting and Locking on Windows: Open the worksheet you want to secure. [...]
Crush your goals without crushing your soul. You hear about mental health a lot, but how often do you hear about mental wellness? And what's the difference? Mental Health: Mental health refers to an individual’s overall psychological well-being. It encompasses emotional, cognitive, and social aspects. It includes both positive and negative states. For instance, mental [...]
AI is using your local government’s website, and this could be a problem if the information on the website is inaccurate or outdated. A recent article in GovExec reports that government websites often contain inaccuracies. This isn’t deliberate. Usually it’s because site information is outdated, or came from a third party and wasn’t thoroughly checked, [...]
This is Henri. He and his friends disapprove of using spreadsheets to manage your local government's boards, commissions and committees. Here's why: They know spreadsheets have long been a staple of local government boards and committees. But as these entities become more complex, and their work more demanding, spreadsheets are failing to meet their needs [...]