Data & Resources


Published on Mar 18, 2024

Acronyms in local government

Contact: Jacob Ewing

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:

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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

  • Cityvision
  • Community engagement
  • Newly elected officials
Copyright © 2018-2024 Association of Washington Cities