This Monthly Rundown is a collection of #LocalGov highlights from the month of July. Consider it a friendly reminder of the content you might need to catch up on from ICMA.

Local Government Review: New Research Findings: Participatory Budgeting, Resident Needs, and Data Analytics. ICMA launches its fourth LGR: Local Government Review as a special section in the July 2018 issue of Public Management (PM) magazine. Powered by TownCloud, this three-article issue is filled with key research findings and expert insights on local government issues and trends and is put into the hands of members and PM subscribers—at no additional cost! 

Budgeting Guide 3-Part Webinar Series. Learn the fundamentals that every local government manager should know. Back by popular demand, this three-part webinar series takes a forward-looking, strategic approach to budgeting while showing you how to improve the process and promote economic vitality in your community.

First-Time Administrators: Six Tips for Researching a New Community. When making the leap to your first position as a local government manager, new administrators might look for communities that offer them the opportunity to expand their skills, gain new experience, and handle greater responsibility. Before your first interview for such a position, however, it is important to do your homework so that you can evaluate if the community is the best fit for you and also identify potential issues that might be raised by the council or search committee.

Podcast: Dr. Robert Fortner: The Rewards of Adopting the Council-Manager Form of Government. In 2009, a citizens' group known as VoteCM'09 in Bainbridge Island, Washington, bid to adopt the council-manager form of government. The group was led by Dr. Robert Fortner, a retired kidney specialist turned activist. Fortner, alongside several other Bainbridge Island residents, was instrumental in bringing the council-manager form of government to the city. Residents successfully adopted council management with 71 percent of voters approving the change. 

Member Spotlight: Shawna Davis. Budget and performance analyst from Olathe, Kansas, Shawna Davis sat down with us at #ICMA2017 to talk about her local government career, what attracted her to it, and what she values about her ICMA membership.

For more updates on the latest news about local government, subscribe to the ICMA Blog and watch this space for more blog summaries. Leave us a comment below with suggestions on what you would like to see in future summaries.