Acronyms in local government

by <a href="mailto:jacobe@awcnet.org">Jacob Ewing</a> | Mar 18, 2024

The real MVPs of brevity and clarity.

The real MVPs of brevity and clarity

You may have heard the joke that if you’re having a conversation that feels like it is made up of more letters than actual words, you probably work in local government.

It’s true that acronyms are widely used in local government to simplify and standardize communication. Acronyms help us to refer to long or complex terms or programs, like VRA for Voting Rights Act, TIF for tax increment financing, or CDBG for Community Development Block Grants. When used correctly, acronyms increase efficiency and effectiveness in communication.

Despite their value in simplifying communication, acronyms can also lead to confusion or cause someone to feel excluded from the conversation if they don’t “speak the language.” Here are some simple tips on how you can better use acronyms in your role as a city leader:

Always state what the acronym means the first time you use it.
Whether you are writing or speaking, it is important to provide the full term for an acronym the first time you use it. This way, you can avoid ambiguity and make sure your audience knows what you are talking about.

For example, if you are writing about an upcoming city project, you may write something like: “The request for proposals (RFP) recently closed. We need to make sure our memorandum of understanding (MOU) is in place with our partners before taking this project to the Public Works Board (PWB).” From that point on, you can use the acronyms with confidence that your reader (or listener) will understand.

The time you take to clearly define acronyms will save you time in the long run as you work with colleagues and members of the community.

Consider your audience when using acronyms.
As city leaders, you interact with individuals and groups with varying degrees of understanding of local government language. Try to first gauge an individual’s understanding of acronyms by asking them if they are familiar with certain terms.

For example, in a conversation with a constituent, you might ask: “The city is considering forming a tax increment finance, or TIF, area. Have you heard of tax increment financing?”

Another good reason to do this is that some acronyms may have more than one meaning depending on the context or field. In other words, your acronym may not only be your acronym. Speaking in an approachable way will help you connect and communicate better with others. If you are speaking or writing to a wide audience, it is better to avoid using acronyms altogether.

Create a glossary of terms for your constituents and peers.
It can be hard to change how you speak and write. Something your city can do is create a glossary of commonly used acronyms and terms for residents. A glossary can help people find and understand terms so they can engage more confidently in local government.

While their use in general conversation or in communications with laypeople may be discouraged, acronyms give city officials an efficient framework for conversations with colleagues and other branches of government. With that in mind—and to make sure that the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) is following our own advice, here is a list of AWC’s commonly used acronyms to use as a handy reference.

Association of Washington Cities commonly used acronyms

ACML	Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership
AWC	Association of Washington Cities
CML	Certificate of Municipal Leadership
CQC	AWC Center for Quality Communities
D&A	AWC Drug and Alcohol Consortium
LRI	Labor Relations Institute
MPP	AWC Member Pooling Programs
RMSA	AWC Risk Management Service Agency
SBS	AWC Salary and Benefit Survey
TUFS	AWC Tax and User Fee Survey

Commonly used acronyms for state agencies and other organizations

AG/AGO	Attorney General/Attorney General’s Office (AKA Office of the Attorney General)
AWB	Association of Washington Business
CERB	Community Economic Revitalization Board
ESD	Employment Security Department
IACC	Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council
ICMA	International City/County Management Association
L&I	Department of Labor and Industries
MRSC	Municipal Research and Services Center
NLC	National League of Cities
OFM	Office of Financial Management
SAO	State Auditor’s Office
TIB	Transportation Improvement Board
WACO	Washington Association of County Officials
WAPELRA	Washington Public Employer Labor Relations Association
WAPRO	Washington Association of Public Records Officers
WASPC	Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs
WCCMA	Washington City/County Management Association
WFOA	Washington Finance Officer Association
WMCA	Washington Municipal Clerks Association
WPTA	Washington Public Treasurers Association
WSAC	Washington State Association of Counties
WSAMA	Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys

Other commonly used public sector acronyms

ADU/ DADU	Accessory dwelling unit/Detached ADU
AI	Artificial Intelligence
AKA	Also known as
AMI	Area median income
APP	Accident Prevention Plan
ARPA	American Rescue Plan Act
BIL	Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
BLEA	Basic Law Enforcement Academy
B&O	Business & Occupation Tax
CAO	Critical area ordinance
CARES	Community Assistance Referral and Education Services
CBO	Community-based organization
CDBG	Community Development Block Grants
CFP	Call for proposals
CIP	Capital Improvement Plan
CJTC	Criminal Justice Training Commission
COI	Certificate of insurance
COLA	Cost of living adjustment
CPI	Consumer Price Index
CUP	Conditional use permit
D-B	Design-build
D-B-B	Design-bid-build
DEIB	Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
EEOC	Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
ERP	Emergency response plan
EV	Electric vehicle
FTE	Full-time equivalent position
FY	Fiscal year
GHG	Greenhouse gases
GIS	Geographic Information System
GMA	Growth Management Act
HB	House bill
IIJA	Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
ILA	Interlocal agreement
IPD	Implicit price deflator (inflation index)
IRA	Inflation Reduction Act
JLARC	Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee
JTC	Joint Transportation Committee
LAMIRD	Limited mrea of more intensive rural development
LEAD	Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion
LID	Low impact development
LID	Local Improvement District
LGIP	Local Government Investment Pool
LIN	Local Investment Network
LOCAL	Real Estate and Equipment Financing for Local Governments (Office of the State Treasurer)
LPWR	Limited Public Works Roster
LTAC	Lodging Tax Advisory Committee
LTSS	Long-Term Services and Supports (WA Cares Fund)
MOU	Memorandum of understanding
MPD	Master Planned Development
MRF	Material recovery facility (processes recyclables)
MSA	Metropolitan statistical area
NEPA	National Environmental Policy Act
NOA	Notice of availability
NPDES	National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
OPMA	Open Public Meetings Act
PAC	Political Action Committee
PDC	Public Disclosure Commission
PFAS	Per-and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (AKA forever chemicals)
PFML	Paid Family and Medical Leave
POWTP	Publicly owned wastewater treatment plant (See also Wastewater treatment plant)
PRA	Public Records Act
PWB	Public Works Board
QOL	Quality of life
RDI	Rural Development Initiative
REAL	Race, equity, and leadership
REET	Real Estate Excise Tax
RFP	Request for Proposals
RFQ	Request for Quotes or Request for Qualifications
ROW	Right of way
SAM	Stormwater Action Monitoring
SB	Senate bill
SEPA	State Environment Policy Act
SLFRF	State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
SMP	Shoreline Master Program
SOL	Statute of limitations
SOP	Statement of Policy
SPWR	Small Public Works Roster
TBD	Transportation Benefit District
TIF	Tax Increment Financing
TIP	Transportation Improvement Plan
UBC	Uniform Building Code
UGA	Urban Growth Area
UI	Unemployment insurance
VMT	Vehicle miles traveled
VRA	Voting Rights Act
WUI	Wildland Urban Interface
WWTP	Wastewater treatment plant