In tough times, municipalities turn to volunteers to get the job done

The Chicago Tribune reports:

local governments around the country are turning to volunteers to conduct official business, according to a report by the National League of Cities in Washington. Citing two examples, the 2010 report said Jacksonville, Fla., had brought in more than 500 volunteers and Hampton, Va., had used roughly 100 students to fill staff and intern positions. Closer to home, Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso, who heads the DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, says more communities are using volunteers than ever before to make ends meet. But it's not just a one-way street, said Erika Storlie, the manager of Evanston's citizen engagement division. The benefits cut both ways.

An article about government today.