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Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Getting the basics right': WalletHub ranks Provo as the best-run city in America
WalletHub released a report Tuesday of the 20 best-run cities in America, with Provo, Utah, in the top spot. Provo's mayor, Michelle Kaufusi, said she found out about the ranking early Tuesday morning and was in her kitchen 'jumping up and down' as she read the article. 'This recognition from WalletHub is truly an honor, but it's really just a testament, like I stated, to our incredible city team and the residents who make Provo such a special place to live,' she said. For this ranking, WalletHub compared 148 of the country's largest cities based on their operating efficiency to determine the effectiveness of local leadership. WalletHub ranked each city based on 36 key performance indicators grouped into six service categories. Those indicators were also measured against the city's total per capita budget. Provo ranked first overall out of all 148 cities. 'It means we must be doing something right, and that's exciting. We've always believed in getting the basics right first, which are, for us, quality schools, safe neighborhoods, well-maintained roads, and then, of course, the responsible budgeting,' Kaufusi said. 'Provo, UT, is the best-run city, and the reasons for that are that the city is experiencing business growth of around 5.2%, alongside a high school graduation rate of nearly 91%. Provo is also a city that is safe,' said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. Lupo added that Provo also has the fourth-lowest violent crime rate and the seventh-lowest property crime rate in the country. 'Safety is always a top concern for citizens,' Kaufusi said. 'We continue to focus on keeping our citizens safe and sound in Provo. I think it was a couple years ago, we literally were voted the safest city, large city in the nation, so that's a focus for us." The city also has the eighth-lowest unemployment rate in the country at 2.8%. According to WalletHub, Provo also keeps its infrastructure well maintained and has impressive economic momentum. When broken down into rankings by individual categories, Provo's numbers are all across the board. The city ranked third for safety, 23rd for infrastructure and pollution, 29th for education, and 31st for financial stability. 'We're not just spending money here in Provo, we're spending it wisely. So every dollar we invest has to deliver real value for our residents, whether that's keeping your streets safe or maintaining our infrastructure or supporting our schools, all of those things matter,' Kaufusi said. Provo's weakest categories were health, for which it ranked 35th, and economy, earning the 84th spot. 'Now we have to keep raising the bar. We're not going to rest on our achievements. We've never been that way. We are go-getters, and we're going to use it as a springboard to continue improving,' the Provo mayor said. Idaho had two cities listed in the top five, with Nampa at No. 2 and Boise ranked fourth. According to WalletHub, Nampa earned the second spot because of extremely low government debt, a low property crime rate and a strong economy. The only other Utah city on the list was Salt Lake City which ranked 99th out of 148. Denver, Colorado, also made the list, taking the 134th spot.
Free Malaysia Today
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PBS backs GRS on local parties leading Sabah
PBS secretary-general Julita Majungki said it is crucial to ensure that Sabah's future is shaped by the aspirations of its own people. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Parti Bersatu Sabah said it fully supports the notion that local parties should lead the state government, amid talk of a possible tie-up between Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional. PBS secretary-general Julita Majungki described GRS as the best and most proven platform to achieve this vision and that GRS should consider, 'if necessary, contesting the 17th state election independently'. 'This support is consistent with PBS's longstanding position since its founding: to champion the voices of Sabah people through leadership that is homegrown,' she said in a statement. PBS, one of eight component members of GRS, holds seven of the 42 seats the coalition has in the state assembly. GRS chairman Hajiji Noor last Friday said the coalition would go solo in the state election if PH and BN had finalised their electoral pact, adding that local Sabah parties should be the backbone and head of the state government. But on Sunday, PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim said he was optimistic that the three coalitions would be able to reach an agreement for the state election. Anwar, the prime minister, said Hajiji had his full support to lead discussions on an election pact among GRS, PH, and BN. Hajiji, for his part, said the cooperation between GRS and Sabah PH had been smooth. Majungki stressed that it was crucial to ensure that Sabah's future was shaped by the aspirations of its own people, with a strong emphasis on stability, efficiency and fairness in governance. She said local parties possessed unique strengths, rooted in their deep understanding of Sabah's multicultural society, diverse geography and rich heritage. 'Local parties are born from the grassroots of the Sabah people. Leadership that is closely in touch with the pulse of the community enables policies to genuinely address the needs of the people. This is vital to ensure that development reaches every segment of society,' she added.
