‘Lincoln does it better’: Capital ranked No. 8 on WalletHub list of best-run cities
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Lincoln’s rise to No. 8 on a list of the best-run cities in the U.S. earned congratulations on Tuesday.
“I love the people, the atmosphere, the culture of the city,” Lincoln native Harvey Lee Parlor said.
WalletHub judged the quality of cities based on six categories: financial stability, education, health, safety, economy and infrastructure.
POLL: Do you agree with Lincoln’s ranking on the best- & worst-run cities list?
Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird’s chief of staff, Rick Hoppe, said there are many factors that contribute to being No. 8.
“It really validates the approach we’ve taken,” he said. “We have great consensus; we work hard to make sure we’re providing great value. That’s why you have such strong neighborhoods, safe community, strong economy. We have infrastructure that works. Lincoln does it better than most cities in the United States.”
Lincoln’s best performance was in the financial stability category, ranking 3rd.
Hoppe said it’s because of the government’s efforts to save taxpayers money and make improvements.
“Mayor Gaylor Baird and the other elected officials have really worked hard to invest in our workforce,” he said. “I think that’s reflected in our low unemployment and the fact that we have one of the best spending ratios of any municipality in the nation when it comes to using city government spending. We provide great services at a lower cost.”
Lincoln native Erwin Swiney said he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
“It has a nice multicultural community; there’s a lot of different ethnic backgrounds,” Swiney said. “It’s a great place to raise kids. I have two daughters, and I enjoy it.”
And Richard Harris, who has lived in Lincoln for three years, said he enjoys the many things the city has to offer.
“I’ve been all around the world with the type of work I do, and I’ve got to say, I love Lincoln,” he said. “It’s a very safe place, and the school system is pretty good for the kids as well.”
