YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
by Carol Harris, Branson area, and Mary Engler-Guccione, Joplin area
A New Zealand official and his wife visited Branson in October as part of an international exchange program sponsored by the International City Managers Association.
Brian Wood, chief executive of the Southland District Council based in Invercargill, New Zealand, met with Branson City Administrator John Pinch and Assistant City Administrator Terry Dody to discuss Branson's success in becoming a major tourist destination.
According to the city of Branson, Wood's major interests were in Branson's tourism tax base, how the city financed infrastructure projects and the city's wastewater management. Some of the major issues facing the Southland District included funding for new roads and a waste-management strategy.
[[In-content Ad]]
Under the weight of rising health care costs, an increasing number of people are surging to the Health Insurance Marketplace rather than opting for employer-sponsored plans.