Recent articles by Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene from governing.com http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=87483647 Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene are national experts in government management and policy. Flawed Thinking About Auditors, the Truth Behind Conferences, and the Value of Field Trips http://www.governing.com/columns/bg-report/col-auditors-conferences-field-trips-value.html All the public-sector management news you need to know. Is Earmarking the Best Way to Fund Projects? http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/col-earmarking-best-funding.html 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. Treating Medicaid Users Like Birds, a Case for Humor in Government, and a Pension Guide for Politicians http://www.governing.com/columns/bg-report/col-medicaid-humor-pension-guide.html All the public-sector management news you need to know. High CIO Turnover, Civic Engagement Ideas and States with Sin-Tax Dependency http://www.governing.com/columns/bg-report/col-cio-turnover-civic-engagement-sin-taxes.html All the public-sector management news you need to know. Why Do So Many Governments Resist Benchmarking? http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/col-governments-resist-benchmarking.html Beyond fear of disclosure, there are a number of reasons states and localities may not want to engage in benchmarking. New Yorkers Lose Homes to the Homeless, a Bright Spot for Detroit, and the Key to Increasing Home Values http://www.governing.com/columns/bg-report/col-nyc-homeless-detroit-increasing-home-values.html All the public-sector management news you need to know. How Detroit Bankruptcy is Exaggerated, Dangers of Facebooking When Hiring, and Value of Pensions to Millennials http://www.governing.com/columns/bg-report/gov-detroit-bankruptcy-facebook-dangers-pensions.html All the public-sector management news you need to know. To Keep Up with the Private Sector, Governments Must Focus on More Than Just Pay http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/col-public-sector-must-focus-on-more-than-pay.html 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. Drought of Data Experts, How Much the Highest Paid Governor Makes, and Another Tax Loophole http://www.governing.com/columns/bg-report/col-data-expert-drought-governors-salaries-tax-loophole.html All the public-sector management news you need to know. A Warning for Big Data, 3 Ways to Handle Citizen Feedback, and Why "Experts" Are Often Wrong http://www.governing.com/columns/bg-report/col-big-data-citizen-feedback-experts-wrong.html All the public-sector management news you need to know. States and Localities Realize the Importance of Inspectors General http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/col-states-localities-realize-importance-of-inspectors-general.html 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. Transportation Trends, the Good News About Bridges, and Funeral Directors' Push to Modernize http://www.governing.com/columns/bg-report/col-transportation-trends-funeral-directors-modernize.html All the public-sector management news you should know. Atheist Treasurers Not Allowed in Arkansas, the Merits of Revenue-Raising, and How Nebraska Wound up with a Unicameral Legislature http://www.governing.com/columns/bg-report/col-atheist-arkansas-treasurer-revenue-raising-nebraska.html All the public-sector management news you need to know. When to Use Performance Measurement http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/col-when-to-use-performance-measurement.html Performance measures are a key management tool -- but not for everything. Odd License Requirements, How Oklahoma City Lost 1M Pounds, and New Government Jargon http://www.governing.com/columns/bg-report/col-license-requirements-oklahoma-city-obesity-hoghousing.html Public-sector management news you should know.