• Internet Sweepstakes Tax Challenged in Federal Court

    Updated: 2010-04-29 23:46:32
    Given the gaming industry’s aggressive litigation strategy against criminal sanctions, it seemed only a matter of time before internet sweepstakes operators responded similarly to the growing number of municipal privilege license taxes imposed on their businesses.  That time has arrived.   Last week lawyers for the “Mt. Airy Business Center” filed a complaint in federal court alleging that the city of Kannapolis violated the [...]

  • Doncaster's elected Mayor obstructed from carrying out his mandate

    Updated: 2010-04-28 23:41:54

  • Airing Dirty Laundry in Public: Does the Law Require It?

    Updated: 2010-04-28 23:41:43
    Members of elected and appointed boards often disagree with each other. That can be considered to be a good thing – perhaps a sign that the board represents different points of view and reflects the various perspectives of its constituents. Sometimes, though, relations become strained. The disagreement becomes hostility and interferes with the board’s effectiveness.  [...]

  • County Responsibility for Public School Funding

    Updated: 2010-04-28 23:41:41
    It is budget season. And, once again, local government officials face tough decisions about how to balance their annual budgets—Raise taxes and fees? Curtail services? Delay projects? Cut personnel? If my volume of phone calls is any indication, however, the “million dollar” question for many county officials involves determining a county’s responsibility for funding its [...]

  • Wearing Several Hats: Multiple and Ex Officio Office-Holding

    Updated: 2010-04-28 23:41:40
    In an earlier blog, I discussed the meaning of “public office.”  As promised, I will now examine multiple and ex officio office-holding. North Carolina has long had a state policy against concentrating too much government power in the hands of one individual.  Reflecting this concern, all of the state’s constitutions until 1971 banned the holding of [...]

  • Executive Order 50 and Local Governments

    Updated: 2010-04-28 23:41:40
    Many of you are aware that Governor Bev Purdue recently signed an executive order to give North Carolina businesses the opportunity to match the lowest bid when bidding on state contracts for the purchase of goods. You can find Executive Order 50 here. This post addresses the questions that I’ve received about this Order. Who [...]

  • Citizen Participation Information as Public Record

    Updated: 2010-04-28 23:41:38
    Local governments work hard to engage and inform their citizens. Technology now provides an increasing number of ways to provide information to and receive information from citizens. From plain old Web pages and email, to Twitter and Facebook, citizens who are willing to log on, sign up, tune in, upload, download, link in, or just [...]

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Mar 2010