Local Government (U.S.) News and Hot Topics
News from Phoenix, Arizona
- Planner: Modest, shorter projects work better in Tucson's downtown (Tucson Citizen)
Don't expect a Manhattan skyline with Glenn Lyons as the point man shaping downtown. Downtown Tucson shouldn't aim at being a high-rise center, but should develop more in keeping with its character and the character of the city, Lyons believes
City budget deficits
- City Council expects surplus in revised budget - Water deficit raises concerns (Tri-County Times)
Fenton - What City Council expected to be a $158,530 deficit in the upcoming year's budget may turn out to be a surplus, according to Acting City Manager Rick Aro. - Shelbyville mayor urges caution with budget following last year's $70,000 deficit (Herald & Review)
SHELBYVILLE - After finishing the year with a $70,000 budget deficit, Shelbyville Mayor Roy Shuff warned city council members to be careful as they make their plans for the 2008-09 fiscal year. - City finance committee wants better budget fix plan (Chico Enterprise-Record)
CHICO ? City councilors still aren't satisfied with proposed budget cuts and want the heads of city departments to have another go at scaling back the city's projected deficit.
Economy growth & development
- ECONOMY: Local, national economies to dodge recession, forecast says (North County Times)
San Diego County's economy will skirt a recession this year and job losses will continue for only two more months, says a widely followed economic forecast. - Economists Says Area Might Be In 'Growth Recession' (Bristol Herald Courier)
A local economist warned Wednesday that the region could be falling into the same economic slowdown common to the rest of the country. In a report detailing the Tri-Cities labor market, East Tennessee State University economics Professor Steb Hipple said the area may be in the midst of a "growth recession," based on a slight increase in the unemployment rate. "The national economy is not out of ... - State's economy is likely to emerge stronger (The Arizona Republic)
Arizona may be in a recession, but once the housing pains conclude, experts predict high-tech industries will provide more sustainable growth than low-paying service jobs.

