Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons^™

Nebraska Home Rule Project: Nebraska Municipal Survey, Robert F. Blair, Dale Krane

Publications

The purpose of the survey was to collect information from Nebraska municipal officials on how state government affects their operations and to identify potential areas for improvement.

Local Governments And Public Facilities Construction In Nebraska: Expenditures, Cooperation And Operation Of Joint Facilities, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This study of public facilities construction was completed by the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Center for Public Affairs Research for the Nebraska Commission on Local Government Innovation and Restructuring.

Municipal Revenue Sources: Analysis Of Omaha's Options -- 1987 Update, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This report updates a study conducted by the Center for Applied Urban Research in 1983. The first section of this report compares the revenue structure of Omaha with the revenue structure of other U.S. municipalities. The comparisons are based on data contained in the U.S. Bureau of the Census publications, City Government Finances in 1980-81 and 1984-85. The categories of comparison cities are all U.S. cities, cities with populations between 300,000 and 500,000, and ten cities that are comparable to Omaha in size and central/ core city percentage of total metropolitan area population.

Microcomputers In City Hall: Case Studies Of Their Uses And Effects, Donald F. Norris, Vincent J. Webb

Publications

Microcomputers first appeared on the commercial marketplace in 1976. Since then, an estimated 40 million microcomputers have been sold and more are being sold each day. A survey conducted in 1982 found that 13 percent of American cities owned microcomputers and that 35 percent planned to buy one or more microcomputers within two years (Norris and Webb, 1984). A follow-up survey conducted three years later found that between 75 percent and 90 percent of city governments owned microcomputers (Scoggins, 1986).

Microcomputer And Local Government, Donald F. Norris

Publications

In 1976, two young Californians named Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak started a revolution. It was a quiet revolution... no shots were fired... no demonstrations occurred... there were no casualties, but it was a revolution nevertheless... a revolution that will have long-lasting results. That year these two young men developed the Apple, the first commercially successful microcomputer.

Microcomputers And Small And Rural Local Governments: Final Report To The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Donald F. Norris

Publications

On June 17, 1982, the Center for Applied Urban Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha received an award of $72,212 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to conduct a training and technical assistance program in microcomputers and small and rural local governments. The overall purpose of this project was to enhance the management capabilities of these governments through the use of computers. The following is a brief report on the activities undertaken during the second year of the project.

Computing In Small Local Governments In Nebraska, Donald F. Norris

Publications

A 1983 study found that patterns of computer use among small local governments (cities under 50,000 and counties under 100 ,000) in seven plains and mountains states were not substantially different from the patterns of computing detected in earlier studies of larger governments. The 1983 study also found that, among other things, basic "housekeeping" functions were the most frequently automated activities; that computer adoption was associated with governmental size, form, type, and metropolitan status; and that most governments owned in-house minicomputers.

Microcomputers And Local Government: A Handbook -- Participants' Manual, Donald F. Norris

Publications

This handbook has its origins in a conversation between the author and Dr. Theodore Maher in the spring of 1981. The conversation centered on the role that we believed soon would be played by microcomputers in local governments and the concomitant need for training and technical assistance in the acquisition and use of microcomputers.

Small Local Governments And Information Management, Donald F. Norris

Publications

During the past few years, an increasing amount of research has been conducted on the subject of computers and information management in small local governments. These are defined as cities of less than 50,000 population and counties of less than 100,000. Much of this research has been conducted within single states or multi-state regions in the United States. One of its primary purposes seems to have been to assist in the development of training and technical assistance programs on computers and information management for small local. governments.

Microcomputers And Local Government: A Handbook -- Instructors' Manual, Donald F. Norris

Publications

This handbook, and its accompanying instructor's manual, was written to be used with a one- or two-day workshop on microcomputers and local governments. The handbook was designed· for the local government official with little or no familiarity with microcomputers and their applications to the world of government.

Computers And Small Local Governments: Uses And Users, Donald F. Norris

Publications

This article examines the adoption and use of computer technology by cities under 50,000 and counties under 100,000 in seven plains and mountain states. Smaller local governments were found to lag considerably behind their larger counterparts in computer adoption and extent of use. However, pat terns of use were not substantially different, with basic "housekeeping" functions being the most frequently automated.

Computer adoption was associated with size, government form and type, and metropolitan status. No relationship was found between financial status and computer adoption. Most governments used in-house computers, and most of these systems were minicomputers. The frequency of microcomputer …

Computers And Small Local Governments: A Survey Of Computer In The Plains And Mountain States, Donald F. Norris, David R. Dimartino

Publications

In July, 1982 the Center for Applied Urban Research (CAUR) of the University of Nebraska at Omaha was awarded a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation to develop and test a training and technical assistance program to help small and rural local governments acquire and use microcomputer technology. This effort contains two major parts: 1) demonstrations of prototype methods in one or more Nebraska local governments that they can use to acquire microcomputer systems, and 2) development of training programs, training materials, and a film on microcomputers for local government officials.

Municipal Revenue Sources: Analysis Of Omaha's Options, Murray Frost

Publications

The purpose of this report is to examine and evaluate revenue sources that can serve as supplements or alternatives to Omaha's current revenue structure.

Microcomputers And City Governments, Donald F. Norris, Vincent J. Webb

Publications

In 1976 a revolution occurred. blood was shed, but the effects No shots were fired, no of the revolution in electronic data processing have been felt throughout the country. What is more, its effects will continue to be felt for many years to come.

Budgeting For Nebraska Local Governments, John W. Swain

Publications

Budgeting is a complex set of activities. To those unfamiliar with its details, it is a mysterious rite conducted annually, and even those familiar with the process give a multitude of definitions. The simplest definition is that budgeting involves the acquisition and allocation of resources.

Microcomputer And Local Government: A Program For Small And Rural Communities, Donald F. Norris

Publications

For the first time since the Great Depression, local governments throughout the United States have begun to experience severe revenue-expenditure imbalances. Inflation, rising expectations, and citizen demands for services have produced governmental intervention into heretofore untouched areas. Combined with the generally decreasing rate of local revenue growth and with reductions in federal and state aid, this has produced serious fiscal problems for many local governments. With resources no longer available to provide prior levels of public services, many local governments have had to cut back on their activities.

Nebraska Program For Technology Transfer: An Operational Framework, Jack Ruff

Publications

All over the country interest has been growing in developing methods to assist local governments to utilize the products of science and technology more rapidly and effectively. This has led to the development of various arrangements for providing both information dissemination and basic research.

Computers And Local Government: Low Cost Information Processing Technologies And Strategies For Local Governments: A Handbook For Workshop Participants, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This training program was developed as part of a Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) grant, under the Higher Education Act of 1965, Title I-A, Community Service and Continuing Education, as amended, to the University of Georgia, Institute of Government (IG) and Institute of Community and Area Development (ICAD), in partnership with the International City Management Association (ICMA).

Review Of Applied Urban Research 1974, Vol. 02, No. 07, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This issue of Review of Applied Urban Research features "Omaha-Council Bluffs Tax Border Issue."

Recently governmental administrators and politicians of Omaha have voiced concern over the sales losses that might result because of Iowa's exemption of food purchases from the retail sales tax--a measure which took effect July 1, 1974.¹

Generally, it is felt that a sales tax rate differential between two border cities will influence sales as favorable rate differentials are reduced or unfavorable rate differentials are created or widened. However, the magnitude of the problem will depend on many factors, e.g., location of major shopping facilities, distance, …