February 1, 2015
6 Big Government Management Issues in 2015
Each are crucial for states and localities to address this year.
January 22, 2015
A Shortage of Data Analysts, Empty Promises, and Missed Opportunities
Plus more public-sector management news you need to know.
January 8, 2015
Crime and Mismanagement and the Realities of Gambling and Online Education
Plus more public-sector management news you need to know.
January 1, 2015
What Keeps Government Managers Up at Night
An impromptu survey reveals what public officials worry most about and what makes them optimistic about the future.
December 18, 2014
Ways to Improve Debt Collection, Problems with Contracting, and the Dangers of 'Shovel-Ready' Projects
Plus more public-sector management news you need to know.
December 4, 2014
Privacy vs. Data Sharing
Plus more public-sector management news you need to know.
December 1, 2014
So You Won the Governor’s Race, Now What?
The transition from one administration to the next sets the tone for a new governor. But there are ways to mess it up.
November 20, 2014
An Outsourcing Reversal, Misnamed Agencies and Reading Recommendations
Plus more public-sector management news you need to know.
November 6, 2014
The Hidden Threat: A Shortage of Correctional Officers
Plus more public-sector management news you need to know.
November 1, 2014
The Simple Way to Grade the Public Workforce
Some governments are going back to measuring employees' quantity of output instead of quality.
October 23, 2014
B&G Report: Questionable Credit Ratings, Tax Credit Disclosures and Gas Tax Secrets
Plus more public-sector management news you need to know.
October 9, 2014
Why Governments Don’t Know Bridges Are Deteriorating
Plus more public-sector management news you need to know.
October 1, 2014
Why Schools Resist Consolidating
There are financial and educational benefits to merging small school districts, yet it's almost always a hard sell.
September 18, 2014
B&G Report: Why Nevada's Tesla Tax Incentive Is So Risky
Plus more public-sector management news you need to know.
September 4, 2014
B&G Report: L.A.'s 300-Year Problem, Problematic Comparisons and Simple Solutions
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
September 1, 2014
The VA Isn't the Only Agency Mismanaging Waiting Lists
Many state and local agencies fail to properly oversee waiting lists for government programs.
August 21, 2014
B&G Report: Last-Minute Meetings, Mental Health and Data on Child Deaths
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
August 7, 2014
B&G Report: Performance Pay Problems, Shark States and Meaningless Goals
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
August 1, 2014
How Does a City Lose a Backhoe?
From guns to backhoes to vehicles, many municipalities struggle to keep track of their inventories.
July 24, 2014
B&G Report: a Ruling on Retirees, Bad Government Checks and Slow Press Offices
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
July 10, 2014
B&G Report: the Dangers of Comparing Police, Book Recommendations and Unhelpful Media
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
July 1, 2014
The Benefits of Sizing Your State Up to Others
Oregon’s workers’ compensation reform shows benchmarking (when done right) can lead to big gains in efficiency.
June 19, 2014
B&G Report: The Next VA Scandal and the Pros and Cons of Appointed Employee Contracts
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
June 5, 2014
B&G Report: Mobile Apps, the World's Worst Client and Traffic Decongestants
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
June 1, 2014
Politicians Count Their Pennies Too Soon
Elected officials have a tendency to promise big savings and painless cuts that often don’t turn out how they hoped.
May 22, 2014
B&G Report: The Value of Opting In, Outsourced Audits, and Wasted Art Funding
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
May 8, 2014
B&G Report: 'Reinstitution' of the Mentally Ill, Comprehensible Courtrooms, and the Flexibility Stigma
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
May 1, 2014
International Students: More Than Just Dollar Signs to U.S. Universities
When students from abroad attend American universities, their ideas enrich us.
April 17, 2014
B&G Report: Useless Opinions, Outsourcing Outcomes, and Leslie Knope-Inspired Awards
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
April 3, 2014
B&G Report: Ignored Reports, Government-Bought iPods and Auditing Auditors
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
April 1, 2014
The Trouble with Email
Yes, it’s been a boon for government work, but it also opens the door to conflict and confusion.
March 20, 2014
B&G Report: Anonymous Contractors, Unconventional Budgeting and the Seattle Syndrome
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
March 6, 2014
B&G Report: Public Records of the Dead, Empty Committees and Pension Tips
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
March 1, 2014
Happy Birthday, World Wide Web
In its 25 years, the Internet has drastically changed how government works.
February 20, 2014
B&G Report: Kickstarter for Government, the Problem with Practical Policies and Cities' Top 10 Challenges
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
February 6, 2014
B&G Report: Misleading Debt Burdens and Budget Claims and a Chance at More Cash
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
February 1, 2014
3 Ways to Keep Public Employees from Leaving
The turnover rate among young state employees is rising. Raising pay might be a way to change that, but it’s not a practical one.
January 23, 2014
B&G Report: The Fairness of Fines, Disappointing Government Websites, and Wasted Financial Reports
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
January 9, 2014
B&G Report: The Right World Outlook, What School Lessons Are Missing, and the Risks of Inaccurate Data
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
January 1, 2014
The Corporate Playbook for Government
Should governments emulate the business practice of Fortune 500 companies?
December 1, 2013
The Open Government Illusion
Open government is often more rhetoric than reality.
October 17, 2013
The Price of Driving on Bad Roads, 6 Things That Engage Employees, and a Bible for Wellness Programs
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
October 3, 2013
Flawed Thinking About Auditors, the Truth Behind Conferences, and the Value of Field Trips
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
October 1, 2013
Is Earmarking the Best Way to Fund Projects?
It's not black and white, but understanding the pros and cons increases your chances of coming to the right answer for a particular project.
September 19, 2013
Treating Medicaid Users Like Birds, a Case for Humor in Government, and a Pension Guide for Politicians
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
September 5, 2013
High CIO Turnover, Civic Engagement Ideas and States with Sin-Tax Dependency
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
September 1, 2013
Why Do So Many Governments Resist Benchmarking?
Beyond fear of disclosure, there are a number of reasons states and localities may not want to engage in benchmarking.
August 22, 2013
New Yorkers Lose Homes to the Homeless, a Bright Spot for Detroit, and the Key to Increasing Home Values
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
August 1, 2013
To Keep Up with the Private Sector, Governments Must Focus on More Than Just Pay
Thanks to recent revenue increases, some states are unfreezing public workers’ pay for the first time since before the recession. But looking at pay levels rather than total compensation hides a great deal of the story.
July 25, 2013
Drought of Data Experts, How Much the Highest Paid Governor Makes, and Another Tax Loophole
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
July 11, 2013
A Warning for Big Data, 3 Ways to Handle Citizen Feedback, and Why "Experts" Are Often Wrong
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
June 28, 2013
States and Localities Realize the Importance of Inspectors General
Although not every city and state is eager to form inspector general offices -- New York City leaders, for example, are currently debating the benefits of one for the police department -- the trend toward more of them has been steady.
June 20, 2013
Transportation Trends, the Good News About Bridges, and Funeral Directors' Push to Modernize
All the public-sector management news you should know.
June 6, 2013
Atheist Treasurers Not Allowed in Arkansas, the Merits of Revenue-Raising, and How Nebraska Wound up with a Unicameral Legislature
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
May 23, 2013
Odd License Requirements, How Oklahoma City Lost 1M Pounds, and New Government Jargon
Public-sector management news you should know.
May 21, 2013
Learn About Lean and Other Management Fads from Texts
A text message conversation about how once management fads fade, the best concepts remain.
April 30, 2013
How to Keep Costly Road Repairs to a Minimum
Coordination between public agencies and utilities will keep streets from being torn up, again and again.
April 18, 2013
Iowa's Generous Employee Benefits, Winning Audits, and the Side Effect of Furloughs
Plus: the misconception about failure and more management news
April 4, 2013
Retirement Predictions, Sin Taxes' Side Effects and the Impact of Class Sizes
Plus: a great resource for child welfare workers and more management news
March 29, 2013
The Risks of Relying on User Fees
In the past three years, states and cities have brought in billions of dollars in additional user fees. But there are pitfalls to this form of revenue boost.
March 21, 2013
Winners in Detroit, Useless Data and Rethinking Charitable Giving
Plus: the message that "out of office" replies convey and more management news
March 7, 2013
Detroit’s Fixable Fiscal Problems, Evaluators under Pressure and the Impact of Multitasking
Plus: The importance of parks and more management news
February 28, 2013
Why Haven’t States and Localities Capitalized on Great Management Ideas?
When management meets politics, management is generally the loser. What can policymakers do to heighten the chances that a reform will, at least, be given the opportunity to succeed or fail?
February 21, 2013
The Limits of Bill Gates' Influence, a Formula for Change and Honorable Contracting Reform
Plus: why Portland, Ore., may no longer be a leader in transit planning and more management news
February 7, 2013
The Reality of Being Sick, Job Piracy and Smart Pension Moves
Plus: how a transit authority transformed itself and more management news
January 31, 2013
Cities Strengthening Bonds with Their International Sisters
There's a new push to get these 2,000 international partnerships working together on concrete development programs.
January 24, 2013
Underreported News, a Risk to Public Health and Savings without Sacrificing Service
Plus: a guide for successful collaboration and more management news
January 10, 2013
Florida's Wasted Taxpayer Dollars, Ignoring Auditors and Keeping up with Transit
Plus: government's ongoing war against “the bad guys” and more management news
December 28, 2012
The Difficulties of Measuring Government Success
Take weatherization. It’s harder than advertised to come up with an easy way to assess the program’s success.
December 13, 2012
Restaurant Audits, Longevity Pay and the Value of Public Amenities
Plus: the importance of IT training and more management news
November 30, 2012
The Problem with Preferential Bids for Women, Minorities
Giving preference to women- or minority-owned businesses is a widely acceptable social policy that can run into management problems.
November 29, 2012
Giving Thanks to Government, Bad Data, and "Greening" Jails
Plus: 4 questions to ask before sharing services and more management news
November 8, 2012
Shared Services, Fat Stats, and a New Yorker's Account of Sandy
Plus: Finding Medicaid waste and more management news
October 31, 2012
Public vs. Private Employees: Who Wins in a Bidding War?
Instead of simply preselecting private- or public-sector employees, managed competition means projects can be put out for bid with both groups competing for work.
October 18, 2012
Changing How Universities Spend Money, the Problem with Rankings and Identifying Government's Enemy
Plus: The impact of postponed retirement and more management news
October 4, 2012
How Body Language Can Improve Union Talks, the Real Cost of Closing Schools and a Board Game for Budget Writers
Plus: Advice for the public sector from the private sector and more management news
September 28, 2012
What Killed Alabama’s Performance Measurement Plan?
Less than a decade after the state enacted its first real performance measurement plan, it -- like a number of other similar programs in the states -- has fallen on hard times.
September 20, 2012
The Gambling Bait and Switch, Surprising Workforce Stats, and Untracked Spending on Juvenile Justice
Plus: The unpredictable costs of trauma care, and more management news
September 6, 2012
Overcoming Training Losses, Improving Mental Health and Fixing the Problem of Too Much Parking
Plus: When cuts come to cops, and more management news
August 31, 2012
Sick Leave Causes Headaches for Governments
Governments are struggling with how to properly manage sick leave to prevent employees from abusing it.
August 23, 2012
When Training Goes Away, When Fiscal Fixes Backfire, and a Novel Traffic Solution
Plus: The return of the Manager's Reading List, and more management news
August 8, 2012
Getting Smarter on Health Care, Ironing Out Government's Conflicting Goals, and the Problem with Job Creation
Plus: Illegal pension recipients, and more management news
July 31, 2012
Gainsharing Falls Victim to Tight Times
The concept of sharing unspent dollars with other employees and agencies saves governments money but is often ignored when budgets are the smallest.
July 19, 2012
An App Without a Home, "The Big Pencil" and Getting Sick of Sick Days
Plus: Getting data right on teachers, and more management news
July 19, 2012
Rx for Too Much Sick Leave?
B&G readers weigh in on whether requiring doctors' notes will cut down on absenteeism.
July 5, 2012
Good Technology Investments, Spending Surpluses Wisely, and Government vs. the Press
Plus: The problems with digital textbooks and more management news
June 29, 2012
The Public’s Problem with Performance Measurements
The average citizen isn’t interested in government-tracked measurements. But if it’s results-based data that directly affects their lives, they might be.
June 21, 2012
Requiring a Doctor's Note, Tax Rates vs. Growth, and Performance in Beantown
Plus: A well-written plea for audtiting, and more management news
June 7, 2012
Residency Requirements, Connecting Citizens to Performance Reporting, and the Problem with Surveys
Plus: Questions about restructuring, and more management news
May 31, 2012
Performance Measurement Improves the Quality of Health Care
Quality measures are transforming everything from billing practices to patient behavior.
May 17, 2012
Obstacles to Results-Based Management, the Erosion of Analytic Capability, and the Hazards of Municipal-Guaranteed Debt
Plus: Life in the 'burbs, and more management news
May 3, 2012
Sustaining Performance Systems, Keeping Up With Day Care, and the Problem with Readmission Rates
Plus: Patient-ranked doctors and more management news
April 30, 2012
Government Performance Auditors at Risk of Becoming Endangered
Many governments have shifted into reverse, cutting and even eliminating auditing offices.
April 19, 2012
Results-Based Barriers, Robbing Peter to Save Paul Money, and the Power of Bad Data
Plus: A scathing Rhode Island audit, and more management news
April 5, 2012
Putting Data to Use, Paying Cops to Shoot and the Politics of Revenue Estimates
Plus: Wise words from a former dicator, and more management news
March 30, 2012
Government Fleets’ Costs Driven Down with Technology Tools
The technology is there, but many state and local agencies still aren’t using it.
March 22, 2012
Sick Time for Overtime: Public-Sector Officials Weigh In
Should governments count paid leave toward overtime?
March 22, 2012
Workforce Planning in Washington, Iffy Stats for Private Prisons, and Wasting Money on College Dropouts
Plus: Linking forms and outcomes, and more management news
March 8, 2012
Competing With the Feds, Filing Your Email and Sell-By Dates for Data
Plus: Getting it right on overtime, and more management news
February 29, 2012
Is Government Consolidation Always Good?
In tight times, governments push for more centralization. But it doesn’t always produce the positive results that are hoped for.
February 23, 2012
When Pilot Programs Crash and Burn, Getting Sick Over Sick Time, and the Problem with Fiscal Notes
Plus: Tricky tax incentives, and more management news
February 9, 2012
Overtime for Sick Time, States' Off-Cycle Fiscal Plans, and Knowing What You're Buying
Plus: No love for committees, and more management news
January 31, 2012
'Constraints Management' Breaks Down Barriers to Efficiency
Government efficiency initiatives come and go. But Utah has had continued success with one in particular.
January 19, 2012
Top Issues for 2012, Library User Fees and Charging for School Buses
Plus: A better way to rate hospital care, and more management news
January 19, 2012
Evaluation of Evaluations
Do public employee appraisals actually accomplish anything?
January 5, 2012
Management Resolutions, States' Varied CAFRs, and an Energy-Saving Tool
Plus: Employee self-motivation and more management news
January 1, 2012
Fighting Government Fraud
How much fraud actually occurs is debatable, but the benefits of eliminating it are clear. And many governments are taking steps to stop schemes, scams and public-sector swindles.
December 8, 2011
The Reliability of Performance Appraisals, Ads on Chicago City Property, and the Cost of Employee Turnover
Plus: Welfare rules in the 50 states, and more management news.
November 30, 2011
In Government We Don’t Trust
People have gradually lost trust in government. How can public leaders get it back?
November 17, 2011
Reading the Fine Print on Financials, A Gold-Plated Tunnel in San Diego, and a Useful Source for Public Policy News
Plus: Assessing corruption in the public sector, and more management news
November 3, 2011
Balanced-Budget Bollocks, The Price Tag of Transparency, and Tracking Government Collaborations
Plus: Questions about pension investments, and more management news
October 31, 2011
Performance Auditors Lose Influence in Tight Times
Groups that assess the value of government programs inevitably make some enemies. That’s one reason the programs are always first on the chopping block.
October 20, 2011
Cost-Savings of Telecommuting, the Perils of Part-Timers, and a Council Meeting Erupts
Plus: The soothing power of shelter dogs, and more management news
October 6, 2011
Facebook in Government, The Value of Coloring Books, and Defining 'Waste, Fraud and Abuse'
Plus: Cheaper tech for schools, and more management news
September 30, 2011
Do States Really Balance Their Budgets?
Loopholes, unexpected expenses and glorified revenue predictions make balanced budgets an unattainable reality for some legislatures.
September 22, 2011
Analysis After the Fact, Why DOTs Should Act Like Retail Stores, and Slippery Stats on Road Safety
Plus: Defining a good boss, and more management news
September 8, 2011
Tablet Computer Takeover, The Plight of Small Counties, and Ethics Laws
Focusing on the budget minutiae, and more management news
August 31, 2011
Small Energy-Efficiency Investments Add Up
States and cities are finding that even the simplest tasks, like switching to LED streetlight bulbs, can result in significant savings.
August 18, 2011
Stressed on the Job, Go-to Sources for Econ, and the Danger of Pretty Data
Plus: Emphasizing the individual, and more management news
July 29, 2011
Measuring the Efficiency of Courts
Municipalities in more than a dozen states are using tools to gauge their courts’ speed, accessibility and reliability in administering justice.
July 21, 2011
Disagreeing with Your Boss
B&G Readers sound off on whether it's okay to go up against the man or woman in charge.
July 21, 2011
States' Self-Promotion, Mobile Phone Math, and Explaining Tax Expenditures
Plus: Sounding off on disagreeing with the boss, and more management news
July 7, 2011
Research Help, More Audit Cuts, and Good News for Greener Cities
Plus: Misconduct in the school cafeteria, and more management news
June 30, 2011
Across-The-Board Budget Cuts May Not Bring Real Savings
When states determine to make some kind of cut with regard to agencies, it's important to differentiate between them.
June 23, 2011
Disagreeing with Your Boss, the State Bailout Fallacy, and Misleading Crime Stats
Plus: Harmful transparency and more management news
June 9, 2011
The Trials of Transparency, The Trouble with Assuming, and a New Government Wiki
Plus: Four-day school weeks and more management news
June 9, 2011
It's Not All Politics with YouTube's 'Town Hall'
The new website empowers citizens to make their decisions based on the issues and not the party that supports them.
June 2, 2011
Ticked at Tech: Your Responses
B&G readers sound off on their frustrations with on-the-job technology.
May 31, 2011
What's a Pension Perk Worth?
Employers can't pinpoint what the real value of retiree benefits is to them.
May 19, 2011
The Taxation Ink-Blot Test, Twittering Cities, and Still Ticked at Tech
Plus: Shared services and more management news
May 19, 2011
B&G Interview: Frank Fairbanks, former City Manager of Phoenix
A discussion with a veteran of local level public service.
May 5, 2011
Ticked Off at Technology, Let's Get Fiscal, and a Lesson from Bangladesh
Plus: Too much certainty, and more management news
April 29, 2011
When is a Shortfall a Budget Gap and Not a Budget Deficit?
The distinctions between gaps and deficits can show just how dire a city or state's condition is.
April 21, 2011
Effective Motivation, the 'Sanctity' of Surveys, and Demand-Based Pricing
Plus: Learning from successes, and more management news
April 7, 2011
Overselling the Economic Crisis, Transcript Tribulations, and Furlough Follies
Plus: An update on government swag, and more management news
April 7, 2011
Government Swag: Pros and Cons
Local leaders differ on whether government-branded freebies and trinkets are worth the money.
March 31, 2011
Effectively Engaging the Public
There's more to keeping in touch with constituents than public hearings.
March 17, 2011
Leading by Example, Repairing New Orleans' Government, And Race to the Top Reforms
Plus: Who to follow on Twitter, and more management news
March 3, 2011
Swag Smack-Down, Confusing Food Stamp Math, And Counting Elephants
Plus: Police Unions in Wisconsin, And More Management News
March 1, 2011
The Legislative Funding Flaw
When state legislatures pass new programs but don't fund them, they may do more harm than good.
February 17, 2011
Dashboard Confessionals, Eliminating Duplicative Services, and Henry Ford on Innovation
Plus: Watching California's Jerry Brown, and more management news
February 3, 2011
When Social Media Works Best, The Illinois Outlier, And Bankruptcy Boogeymen
Plus: Good News for Counties, And More Management News
February 1, 2011
Using Data to Guide Education Policymaking
Louisiana learns to use information about its students to create real-life benefits for them.
January 20, 2011
Making the Case for Tax Incentives, Slowing Health Spending, and The Price of a Life
Plus: A Small Victory for Detroit, And More Management News
January 6, 2011
Obstinate Outliers, GPS Trackers and Insufficient Audits
Plus: Recommended reading, short-term thinking and more management news
January 1, 2011
Overseeing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
As the feds help states and cities, a new relationship may be developing.
December 16, 2010
Working for Big Brother, Performance in Portland, And the Cash Myth
Plus: Giving oversight some teeth, looking at some pretty graphics, and more management news
December 2, 2010
Cutting Medicaid Costs, The Problem With Vision, And Scary Thoughts on Schools
Plus: Manager must-reads, the importance of good data, and more management news
December 1, 2010
Administrative Cuts Affect Governments' Functionality
Deep managerial workforce cuts change how tightly and rightly governments run.
November 18, 2010
Why The Public Distrusts Government, The 'Best' Performance Measures, And More
Plus: measuring student achievement, balancing state budgets, and more management news.
November 4, 2010
Getting Citizens to Care, Fixing Civics Education, And How Government is Like a Hockey Puck
Plus: The cost of rules, how bikes saves lives, and more management news.
November 1, 2010
Prioritizing and Revamping the Budgeting Process
States and localities should prioritize top goals and revamp the budgeting process.
October 21, 2010
Unruly Rules, Preaching Against Government Waste, And Legislating Inoculations
Plus: City Budget Cuts, Stimulus Strains, And More Management News
October 7, 2010
Grading on a Curve, Setting Goals in Public, And Cutting for Tax Cuts
Plus: A New Budget Gimmick, And More Management News
October 1, 2010
Forgetting the Economic Cycle Already?
In boom times, states forget the bust years. That’s worrisome as revenues show signs of life.
Workplace Stress, When Innovations Fail, And Technology Etiquette
Plus: Payday Fraud, Citizen-Driven Budgeting, and More Management News
Hospital Errors, Public/Private Partnerships and Flexibility on Vacation Time
Plus: Performance evaluations, the challenge of cell phones and government, and more management news.
Governments Need to Get to Know Their Vendors
Before contracting out a government function, a jurisdiction must have solid information about a firm's performance.
A Snitch in Time
Plus: The power of comfort, Florida's liquor-lag, and more.
Tethered by Technology?
A handful of B&G Report readers speak out about the positives and negatives of devices that allow them to stay in touch with their work around the clock.
Half-a-Billion in Waste?
Plus: Making Commissions Useful, Counting Contracts, And More
Partnering Up: Public-Private Partnerships
Partnering for value can be great for a state or city, but the devil is in the details.
The Stimulus Scare
Plus: Health Care Misconceptions, Performance Management Uncertainties, And More
Does Handheld Tech Actually Make Your Job Harder?
Plus: Relaxing Oversight on State Contracts, Making Referendum Signatures Public, And More
Goodbye to Good Research
Funding for state programs that research and analyze long-term issues is dwindling.
When Spending Really Is Out of Control
Plus: Progress on Hospital Infections, Another Bunch of Bad Co-Workers, And More
The Five Worst Types of Government Workers
Plus: Fees for Special Treatment, Sin-Tax Errors, And More
Telecommuting's Sluggish Adoption
Working from home has been touted as the future, so why isn't it catching on faster?
New Technology Can Be Tempting, But Don't Go For More Than You Can Handle
Plus: Imperiled Public Health Agencies, the Importance of Statistics, And More
Tracking Return-on-Investment for Higher Ed
Plus: Public-Private Partnerships, The End of the Rubber Room, And More
When Public Officials Play Hide and Seek
The low-tech telephone plays a key role in keeping government connected to citizens. Too bad, officials never pick up. (Photo: Chris Campbell/Flickr CC)
Tweeting Your Way to Better Management
Plus: Kentucky Loses a Resource, Texas Loses Some Fireworks, And More
Fiscal Fireworks
When we suggested fireworks displays are community-building events that shouldn't be eliminated, some of our readers lit up like the Fourth of July.
Civics Education Programs Around the Country
Here's a sampling of some courses and publications designed to educate young citizens about how government works.
Does Rudeness Get Results?
Plus: Civics Boot Camps, Quotables, And More
An Unproductive Bump
During layoffs, the effect of 'bumping rights' on the workplace is more than demoralizing.
When Budget Cuts Threaten a Sense of Community
Plus: Overworked Officers, Unanticipated Outcomes, And More
When Officials Play Hide-and-Seek
Plus: The magic of checklists, the non-jobs effects of the stimulus, and more
New Revenue, New Concerns
Contingency fee contracts are becoming hot, but have their limits.
Looking for Civics Lessons
Plus: Planning for the end of the stimulus, the D.A.R.E. problem, and more
Closing the Tech Gap
Plus: Walkability scores, e-mail advice, and more
Fatally-Flawed Mortality Statistics
Inaccurate information on death certificates impacts how states allocate health-care funds.
Looking for E-mail Wisdom
Plus: Budget tricks, taco cooperation, and more
Putting the Context in Context
Plus: The stimulus vs. productivity, the "anchoring effect," and more
Awaiting the Meaning of Waiting Lists
They are supposed to give you solid information about program demand. Instead, they mislead the public.
The Stimulus Dilemma: Creating Jobs vs. Boosting Productivity
Plus: The phantom toll road, red-light camera accidents, and more
The Buck Stops Where?
Plus: The jargon divide, even more questionable stimulus spending, and more
Government and the Stress Mess
Layoffs and furloughs are taking a toll on those who are still on the job.
Taxi Triumphs
Plus: Unreported swine flu stats, outsourced water bills, and more
Public Dollars, Private Perks and a Bouquet of Criticism
Is it ever okay to buy get-well-soon flowers with taxpayer money?
Recession: Not the Time to Gut Employee Training Programs
Plus: The final word on flowers, the perils of bad data, and more
The States' Stupid Budget Tricks
This year may set a record for gimmicks they used to balance their books.
Private Perks are Nice, But Not at Public Expense
Overstated savings, underestimated budgets, and more
Public Spending: Is a Little Warmth a Good Investment?
Plus: The problem with school vending machines, a technology reality check, and more
The Management Challenge of Bad Data
Obstacles to coming up with solid, accurate numbers to measure program performance are all over the place.
For Good Data, Context Counts
Robbing pensions to pay Paul, making customers happy while they wait, and more
When Revenues Don't RSVP
Plus: Useless news bulletins, the tweeting-texting-traffic conundrum, and more.
Few Payoffs for Overtime Pay
It can be a drag on pensions and the bottom line.
Dusty Data
Plus: Getting a fix on the price of government, one state that's all smiles right now, and more
Recession Aggression
Keeping an eye on California, how most states are bungling stimulus accountability, and more
Bidding Boards Goodbye
Boards and commissions can be expensive--whether or not they meet.
Going Too Far on Furloughs?
Plus: The big pencil, the pressure to appear overloaded, and more
When Tech Advancements Are Really Retreats
Plus: Under-reporting homicides, under-sharing best practices, and more
Performance Rules
Managing for results is making a bigger difference during this downturn.
Which Tech is Dreck?
Plus: The questionable effectiveness of tax incentives, what happens when pilots fly blind, and more
Putting Performance in Child-Welfare Services
Plus: Whether CEOs matter, the public-private slowdown, and more
Who Should Fix the Potholes?
Sometimes it saves money to outsource government work. But don't assume that.
What Public Managers Want
Readers of the B&G Report tell the top two qualities they're looking for in an employee.
Those Two Little Management Words
Plus: The possible demise of a performance institution, management lessons from a weight-loss program, and more
May 20, 2009
Manager's Reading List
A running list of must-reads for public managers, suggested by readers of The B&G Report
Insight on Incentives
Plus: Paying for snitches, the power of putting data on a map, and more
No Time for Budget Busting
Stimulus or no stimulus, cost overruns are as dangerous as ever.
What Do Public Managers Want?
Plus: saving on Medicaid, the problem with building consensus, and more
Using Stimulus Funds for Parks
Readers of the B&G Report respond to the idea of using federal stimulus dollars for quality-of-life projects.
Stimulating Conversation on Parks and Golf Courses
Plus: Adaptability and flexibility, California's new stimulus watchdog, and more
The Vacancy Game
An odd route to budgeting flexibility comes from banking unfilled job slots.
A Stimulus Hole-in-One
Plus: Taxes vs. fees, unaccountable accountability, and more
March 8, 2009
Measuring Livability and Performance
The Oregon Progress Board was created in the late 1980s to develop statewide livability indicators and monitor progress on Oregon's statewide strategic plan. It certainly...
"Silly" Stimulus Spending
Plus: The balanced-budget myth, Oregon's progressive Progress Board, and more
Coming Together, Breaking Apart
To consolidate or not to consolidate: a puzzling question.
Park That Stimulus!
Plus: How informing patients can lower Medicaid costs, a great resource for performance reporting, and more
When Program Funds Go Awry
Plus: Improving 311 systems, the pain of conference calls, and more
The Lure of the Layoff
There are plenty of costly mistakes to make when you try to balance a budget through personnel freezes, cuts or early retirements.
December 31, 2008
Plugging Leaks
Fifteen years ago, when a new business tried to put down roots in Kansas, the business owner had to mail in a paper registration and...
A Gift List for Managers
Plus: How to fix failed institutions, keeping track of budget cuts, and more
Opposite Day
Plus: A state-city disconnect, an entirely unscientific poll about performance measures, and more
Afraid to Fire?
Plus: The problem with a one-year check-up, unspent money in Tulsa, and more
The Election's Over: Time to Start Worrying
Plus: The decline of the citizen survey, using the Web to change attitudes about government, and more
The Sweet Spot in Sour Times
When times are tough, politicians and managers have the cover to make hard choices.
A Simple Idea for Saving on Health-care costs
Plus: Losing credit in Hartford, fed-state stat spat, and more
October 15, 2008
Many Happy Tax Returns
States and the federal government might be able to save a fair amount of money if they paid attention to some developments in Oregon, according...
Management Prognostications
Plus: Our own predictions for the year, government's "big pencil," and more
Executioner's Song
There is a lot of fanfare when a new program is signed into law. But then, it disappears from sight. Why is that?
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Managing
Plus: A Good Idea from Oregon, the truth about state "wellness programs," and more
The Face of Government
Plus: State boards in limbo, the power of picking up the phone, and more
B&G Interview: Questions for Bob Wise
A conversation with the former West Virginia governor and the current president of the Alliance for Excellent Education
Assessing a Hot Button
Some of the problems with property taxes could be solved on the management end.
The Problem with Acronyms
Plus: Managers Reading List, training for waving a flag, and more
Read Any Good Books Lately?
Plus: Smart moves from the Ohio highway patrol, the four-day work week in the public sector, and more
Letting It All Hang Out
The latest political buzzword is transparency. But it may not be the cure-all it's cracked up to be.
When Technology Gets You Down
Plus: Looking for a date, flawed state audits, and more
The Often Fictional Organization Chart
Plus: States giving cities the shaft, letting citizens sit on pension boards, and more
Learning from Losers
Best practices are all well and good. We make a case for a center to study the worst.
Do States Care About Cities?
Plus: Low ethical standards, the Rubber Room, and more
B&G Interview: Questions for John Turcotte
A conversation with one of the nation's top experts on program evaluations
Is Your Government an Ethical Place?
Plus: Generational conflicts in the workplace, how building maintenance reduces staff turnover, and more
The Meeting Morass
There are way too many of them, they take too long and don't accomplish much. Can meetings be fixed?
Do Politics Get in the way of Sensible Initiatives?
Plus: Telecommuting breeds discontent, sick public-sector workers, and more
Growth & Taxes
Why outdated state tax systems undercut economic vitality, and what states can do about it.
Breathing Room
States that give localities greater leeway to raise revenue help create robust partners for investing in the future.
Baiting Hooks
Tax incentives will always be with us, but states are finally keeping tabs on what they're getting for their money.
Staying Stable
Volatile revenue streams and unpredictable taxes bring misery to everyone from state budgeters to businesses.
Plugging Leaks
A tax policy is only as good as the systems that collect the taxes and make it simple for people to pay them.
December 31, 2007
Growth & Taxes
It's been known for a long time that obsolete state tax systems are not producing the revenue states need. But what's becoming clear today is...
December 31, 2007
Breathing Room
On January 29, Florida's voters will decide whether to approve a constitutional amendment -- sent to them by the state legislature -- that would set sharp...
December 31, 2007
Baiting Hooks
Tax incentives have long been endorsed as the highway to prosperity -- attracting businesses, providing jobs and enriching the state. That's been conventional wisdom in...
December 31, 2007
Staying Stable
We'd always take a tax cut, of course," says David Johnson, the former chairman of the Ohio Manufacturers' Association. Nothing surprising in those words, but...
Keeping Meetings Meaningful
Plus: Roadblocks to shared services, private-sector succession planning, and more
The Future Is Now
It's one thing to attract young people to government jobs. It's another to keep them there.
Public Managers' Time-Vampires
Plus: Why to avoid group e-mails, taxing other states' muni bonds, and more
Why Do Employees Leave the Public Sector?
Plus: Public vs. private salaries, sharing data over the Web, and more
September 30, 2007
The $3 Trillion Challenge
Texas pensions have a problem. Four-fifths of the nearly 100 public retirement plans are underfunded -- not by a thousand dollars here and a million there....
An Accidental Outcome
When officials act quickly to solve a problem, they may fail to look at the long-term effects -- and those can create new complications.
The Coffee-Stain Index
Plus: Higher-than-expected turnover, the importance of old-fashioned written materials, and more
Reasons for Leaving
Plus: A great tool for performance reporting, our Journalist of the Month Award, and more
An Ounce of Encouragement
Some states and localities are taking steps to get constituents to do what they ought to do anyway.
"Low-Hanging Fruit" and Other Annoying Phrases
Plus: Overly expensive -- and overly designed -- logos, the Philadelphia Productivity Bank, and more
Don't Ask
The more thoroughly you measure the depths of any problem, the bigger
that problem will appear to be.
B&G Interview: Questions for Carlos Alvarez and George Burgess
A conversation with the mayor and county manager of Miami-Dade
Nerve-wracking Government Jargon
Plus: Unacceptably low graduation rates, the "paperful" office, and more
The Listening Post
One of the toughest things for states or localities to do is get bona fide input from citizens on how they're doing.
How to Get Employees to Sign Up for a "Voluntary" Effort
Plus: The broadband ZIP-code gap, transportation safety for emergency responders, and more
B&G Interview: Questions for Laura Chick
A conversation with the controller for the city of Los Angeles
The Future of Performance Management
Plus: The price of promptness, the problem with playing it safe, and more
B&G Interview: Questions for John Cape
A conversation with former New York Governor George Pataki's budget director.
March 1, 2007
Numbers, Crunched
If budgets are financial plans, then CAFRs tell you what happened to
the plan. So why don't more people pay attention to them?
Do You Know What You Own?
A surprising number of states and localities don't have the kind of inventory of their assets that a decent shoe store has.
Speed Limits
Response time is the easiest but not necessarily the best measure of
performance.
When Boomers Retire
A number of states are looking to career-building programs to grow
their workforces of the future.
Short on Oversight
States and localities are outsourcing more of their services, but
management of the contracts is in dire need of an upgrade.
Plugging In
Performance measures are finally being taken out of the box and
applied to agency plans and budgets.
Gaming the Numbers
Many of the statistics policy makers use today are set in concrete but
made of quicksand.
Time For A Check Up
An independent performance audit can help an agency deliver services
more efficiently and effectively.
Apples to Umbrellas
Criteria and formulas for basic performance measures are so varied,
comparing data from one state to another is often a fruitless
exercise.
Loving a Loser
Award-winning programs usually spawn copycats, but there may be good
ideas to replicate from innovative projects that falter.
Cashing Out
Our household is just like a state: good at forecasting revenue, but
when it comes to expenditures, things get dicier.
A Balancing Act
Contracting out services can benefit the bottom line, but not always.
The trick is to figure out when it does and doesn't.
February 1, 2005
The Year of Living Dangerously
"There are some remedies worse than the disease," a playwright wrote more than two millennia ago. Publilius Syrus could have been referring to the current state of the 50 states.
A Little Less Input, Please
Gathering all the public input you can may sound like a good idea, but
it's often more of a pain than a panacea.
November 1, 2004
A Mental Case
Even as doubts grow about using performance data in budgeting, mental
health agencies provide fresh evidence of the benefits.
September 1, 2004
Checking Out Reality
One of the easiest ways to balance a budget is simply to predict
savings that may or may not ever come to pass.
July 1, 2004
Forward Pass
It's important to understand that five-year forecasts are going to be
wrong, but it's good to do them anyway.
May 1, 2004
Applauding a Performance
A new report can help agency officials and lawmakers use performance
measures more effectively.
March 1, 2004
When Less Is Not More
Some agencies don't gather data that could help them manage better--
because it might make them look bad.
February 1, 2004
A Case of Neglect
Why Health Care Is Getting Worse, Even Though Medicine Is Getting
Better
January 1, 2004
Going for the Goal
Applying the principles of managing for results to running a child's
soccer team leads to some unexpected outcomes.
November 1, 2003
A Heads Up On Hype
Overselling a project can have unfortunate consequences, among them
earning the distrust of legislators.
September 1, 2003
Bye, Bye Early Bird
A late budget is a clear sign that unproductive politics are
overwhelming a government's sensible management.
July 1, 2003
In-House Outlaws
Catching every bit of fraud in government can result in what a county
official calls 'spending a dime to chase a nickel.'
May 1, 2003
The Prized Employee
Governments are in the position of trying to reward good performers--
without being able to give raises or bonuses.
March 1, 2003
Coming To Terms
Fuzzy language is a big impediment to good management--and to
understanding the way government really works.
January 1, 2003
A Data Deficiency
The lack of good information to help voters make intelligent decisions
on ballot measures is startling.
November 1, 2002
Making Comparisons
People may not care how clean the average street is, but they sure
want to know how their street compares to others.
September 1, 2002
You Can't Bank On It
When a state or local agency has money left at the end of the year, a
spendthrift mentality tends to take over.
July 1, 2002
Proof Positive
Louisiana has undergone a sea change in the use of performance
information. Managing for results is working there.
May 1, 2002
Control Freaks
States and localities probably spend more money enforcing incredibly
restrictive rules than they lose on waste and fraud.
January 1, 2002
The Terminator
Even for those governments that have mechanisms to hasten the firing
process, it can still be laborious to get rid of deadwood.
November 1, 2001
Bad-News Budgeting
When revenues dry up, states and localities tend to make cuts that
leave them less able to deliver services effectively.
September 1, 2001
Ending the Gotcha Game
The more managers are free to admit an impending failure without fear
of being throttled, the better off a government will be.
July 1, 2001
The Good Book
A new report on making results-based state government work is chock-
full of commonsense recommendations.
May 1, 2001
Getting the Grouse Out
Problems crop up when the grievance process is so complex and time-
consuming that it stifles managers and employees.
March 1, 2001
Paying the Bill
States need a more careful process of estimating the future financial
impact of legislation before legislators pass it.
January 1, 2001
Training Wheels
Most states can't tell you, with any authority, how much agencies
spend on training or how wisely they spend it.
November 1, 2000
Resume Follies
Credentials may be important, but the skills, abilities, knowledge and
behavior of applicants are at least equally so.
September 1, 2000
Keeping Secrets
Regardless of real-world pressures, data should be made public. Absent
good information, bad information will prevail.
July 1, 2000
Truth in Measurement
Verifying the accuracy of statistics generated by performance measures
seems to be the last step in the process.
May 1, 2000
The Centralization Continuum
States and local governments have been swinging like a pendulum
between powerful and weak central controls.
March 1, 2000
The Rise of Cost Accounting
Governments are finally beginning to figure out how to develop solid
figures for the cost of the services they provide.
January 1, 2000
Suggestion-Box Sickness
Employee idea boxes seem like an obvious way to foster the ballyhooed
notion of `continuous improvement.' So why don't they work?