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Civic Library

Tutorials synced from LocalInsights v1 civic library.

Governance

1. Home Rule vs. General Law

7 min readBeginner

How Texas cities get their powers

Governance5 takeaways
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2. Special Purpose Districts

9 min readBeginner

MUDs, TIRZs, ESDs, and the invisible government

Governance5 takeaways
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6. Local Governance Structures

7 min readBeginner

Council-Manager, Mayor-Council, and everything between

Governance5 takeaways
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Fiscal Literacy

3. Reading an ACFR

8 min readIntermediate

Your city's financial X-ray, explained

Fiscal Literacy5 takeaways
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4. Debt & Certificates of Obligation

7 min readIntermediate

How cities borrow (and when to worry)

Fiscal Literacy5 takeaways
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5. Budget vs. ACFR

6 min readIntermediate

What your city plans to spend vs. what it actually spent

Fiscal Literacy5 takeaways
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7. Tax Rate Anatomy

8 min readIntermediate

M&O, I&S, and why your bill keeps rising

Fiscal Literacy5 takeaways
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8. Bond Elections

7 min readAdvanced

What's on the ballot and what it really costs

Fiscal Literacy5 takeaways
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Civic Action

9. Public Information Requests

8 min readBeginner

Your right to know, and how to use it

Civic Action5 takeaways
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10. Civic Participation Pathways

7 min readBeginner

Beyond voting: meetings, boards, and public comment

Civic Action5 takeaways
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Investigations

11. How to Read a Campaign Finance Report

9 min readAdvanced

Contributions, expenditures, and the red flags that matter

Investigations5 takeaways
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