Regional and statewide reports now available on a wide range of local government topics
The Florida League of Cities Center for Municipal Research & Innovation has released the 2016 State of the Cities Report. Produced annually, the report focuses on trends and key issues related to municipal governments in Florida.
With data and statistics from nearly three-quarters of Florida’s municipalities based on statewide data from the League’s 2016 CityStats Survey, the report provides a comprehensive look at the current status of our cities in such areas as employment, the economy, budgets, services, utilities and public safety.
Themes from the report include prioritizing the quality of life for city residents – more than 90 percent of cities provide city parks and 60 percent of cities provide recreation centers. In Florida, there are 192 cities with populations less than 5,000 and only 42 cities with populations over 60,000.
“Many people don’t have a clear picture of the diversity of Florida’s cities. We may imagine that Florida’s cities are all like the cities in which we personally live and work. But Florida’s cities vary dramatically in size and service delivery, as the State of the Cities and regional CityStats reports make clear,” said Scott Paine, director of Leadership Development and Education for the Florida League of Cities University. “These reports are a great place to start to appreciate what our citizens have chosen for themselves, community by community. And the data on which the reports are based is readily available for those who wish to know more.”
In addition to the overarching State of the Cities report, the Center offers numerous statewide and regional reports identifying trends and analyzing local government data based on the results of the 2016 CityStats survey. General municipal information, including lists of Florida’s cities by county, form of government, population and size of council/commission are also available in the Center’s online reports portal.
“The Center for Municipal Research & Innovation is the foremost provider of local government research and resources,” said Research Analyst Liane Schrader. “Since the Center’s inception in 2011, we have partnered with numerous state agencies and academic institutions, and it has been very rewarding to see the local government and academic communities come together and utilize these resources to foster innovation and create regional solutions that address the issues facing Florida’s cities.”
The full State of the Cities report and results of the 2016 CityStats Survey are available online at http://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/research/data-statistics. Contact Liane Schrader at [email protected] or (850) 222-9684 for more information.
Founded in 1922, the Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments. Its goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida’s cities. Florida’s cities are formed by their citizens and governed by their citizens. The League is founded on the belief that local self-government is the keystone of American democracy. For more information, visit www.floridaleagueofcities.com.
The Florida League of Cities’ Center for Municipal Research & Innovation is the primary source for local government research at the League. Through the center, Florida’s city officials have access to municipal resources and data needed to effectively lead their local governments and Florida’s municipal government research institutes have opportunities to collaborate with municipal government practitioners across the state. Founded in 2011, the Center bridges the gap between academics and public policy makers and administrators.
