Archive
Dozens of cities and counties insist that not all their residents were counted. They may be fighting a losing battle.
Michigan municipalities want to clear up the confusion over the two mortgage giants’ status. Are they government agencies or private companies?
The design for the 34th president’s monument is too trendy and cold, critics say.
State union leaders blamed a conservative organization for intentionally spreading misinformation about a labor agreement -- one that was voted down by workers.
The fiscal situation will likely make huge capital projects like the space shuttle program and Boston’s Big Dig a thing of the past.
Governments must interact using both traditional websites and social media.
States and cities are finding that even the simplest tasks, like switching to LED streetlight bulbs, can result in significant savings.
Economic development’s key measure of success is not the only approach to turning lagging economies into prosperous communities.
With stimulus funding gone, a misinformed citizenry is unprepared for the funding cuts on the horizon.
Politically-involved high school students could teach legislators a thing or two about compromise.
Without the aid package, the country's unemployment rate could have been 18 percent higher.
Losing an election can teach candidates valuable campaign lessons that could help them win statewide office later on.
Small businesses are using computers to cheat states and localities out of sales tax revenue. The technology is so good that some say it's nearly indetectable.
States could reward local governments—and their taxpayers—for finding creative ways to provide services for less money.
Mike Bonetto is leading Oregon's efforts to move more people on the Oregon Health Plan into coordinated care organizations that could improve health outcomes and decrease costs.
The challenges have changed, and the old models for public leaders no longer apply.
Today’s most effective leaders are very different from the public administrators of the past. The challenges have changed, and the old rules no longer apply.
Gov. Jerry Brown hires a former bank executive as jobs czar and prepares to unveil new plans to boost job creation in struggling state.
A coalition of social welfare groups urges Californians to cancel Amazon accounts until the online retailer starts collecting state sales taxes.
Plus: Emphasizing the individual, and more management news
There are lessons for designing public programs in the way technology is developed.
Technology development works very differently from the way government programs are launched, managed — and ended. There are lessons for government in the way the gadgets we use are created.
Consumers may like back-to-school tax holidays, but are they good public policy?
If it expires, states won't get payments from Washington, and the feds will lose $100 million per day.
Some citizens just want to complain, but a lot them have good ideas for improving their neighborhoods and communities. A new social-media collaboration platform in NYC is helping citizens achieve that.
Even without a double-dip recession, it's a lost decade for state and local governments and their employees.
If you thought the Great Recession was the most trying time for state and local government credit ratings, think again.
New municipalities are popping up around the country, rooted in dissatisfaction with traditional governments. The new cities are experimenting with new ways to deliver services efficiently.
America’s web of local governments made sense in the 1600s. For efficiency’s sake, it’s time to rethink that structure.
America's longest-serving governor avoids getting too political during a speech before a bipartisan group.
A reader asks about the importance of diving into Facebook and Twitter.
Lawmakers say the onslaught of legislation is due to federal inaction. But could it be sending the wrong message to Washington?
Highly paid public-sector executives are in the headlines. But governments may need to pay top dollar to get the excellence they need.
The fiscal year ends Sept. 30, but Congress is nowhere close to finalizing its spending bills.
America's poorest communities play a crucial role in border protection. One expert says that greater federal investment would help.
One state is hoping investors will happily plop down money for social service programs.
Thanks to the pension crisis, the public-sector should prepare for a 'lost decade' of compensation correction.
As Congress eyes domestic cuts, the bankrupt Rhode Island municipality shows what happens when a city can't afford to function.
At a time when police, firefighters and teachers are being laid off, it's hard to justify the municipal golf course.
California's high-speed rail project suffers another blow as federal cuts threaten its future. Can a trip to China help legislators put the project on the right track?
Like a good basketball play, an effective leader needs "court vision."
Effective leaders know the importance of focusing not only on the things they can control, but on the larger picture.
Congress could grant states the ability to collect sales taxes from e-retailers -- a power that has eluded them for years.
When the FAA's taxes expired, passengers could have saved money, but instead the airlines raised ticket prices. Now, the Treasury may try to claw that money back.
States continue to suffer through depressed revenue. Federal proposals may worsen the bleeding.
Outsourcing government services can save money. But governments need to bring their own expertise to bear to de-politicize the process.
Highway gridlock is just getting worse. Technology offers one way to find money for transportation improvements that are desperately needed.
For the public sector to get 'service' right, we first have to know the definition.
We need to nurture the next generation of problem-solvers, whether they are at the beginning of their careers or looking for an encore.
A very blue state approves a law similar to some the national Democratic Party is criticizing.
Handling the onslaught of traffic, crime and health needs of the 80,000 people who attend Bonnaroo every year is an art form for local officials.
Some publicly funded universities may eliminate their Master of Public Administration programs, but schools are getting creative to avoid that.
One of the few remaining commercial-free zones in the country may need corporations to close budget gaps.
Vivek Kundra brought state IT leaders into policy discussions at an unprecedented level. They’re nervous about who might take his place.
Public employers will think twice about future benefit increases if laws require more disclosure.
China embraces performance management in an effort to wring out greater productivity and transparency.
Bus travel between major cities is popular, but operators need strict regulation to avoid a race to the bottom.
Despite the recession, which usually spurs a rise in law-breaking, violent and property crimes have dropped for the fourth year in a row. How can this be?
The success of New York City’s solar efforts wouldn’t have been possible without its on-the-ground ombudsmen.
Municipalities in more than a dozen states are using tools to gauge their courts’ speed, accessibility and reliability in administering justice.
Washington, D.C., hopes to roll out the nation’s first online intrastate casino. Buddy Roogow is leading the way.
A county in North Carolina created a community garden so the unemployed can work for benefits, training and food.
This year, more than half of the states decreased or eliminated funding for health centers, which provide an alternative to costly emergency rooms.
Congress is calling for USASpending.gov to be replaced with a site that allows states and localities to report their earnings themselves.
States that are cutting their K-12 budgets by billions of dollars can expect more lawsuits, but they may not have an immediate impact.
Businesses are tired of jumping across state lines for wasted tax incentives.
See which projects are included in $681 million worth of stop orders.
We need a forum for our levels of government to consult with one another, and the stimulus program provides a model.
We used to have a forum for our various levels of government to consult with one another. There's a simple way to get that conversation going again.
Congress has until midnight Friday to avoid furloughing 4,000 agency workers.
Contracting out is not an all-purpose solution, but, done right, it can help deliver better services for less money.
Across-the-board cutting just protects the worst spending. Here are seven ways to create more value for less money.
Slashing budgets across the board protects the worst spending. There are plenty of far more effective ways to go.
Western counties say they're getting stuck with the costs of taking care of abandoned livestock.
Just seven months after a painful 2010 midterm election, things are looking a little better for Democrats
A new study challenges common beliefs about public pensions and collective bargaining.
Plus: Sounding off on disagreeing with the boss, and more management news
B&G Readers sound off on whether it's okay to go up against the man or woman in charge.
Public employee leaders say a conservative group tricked union members, but a state inquiry remains open.
Can dedicated teams deliver new solutions? A new grant program will test the concept in five cities.
A new report scores states on how well they administer the unpopular tax.
To save redevelopment agencies, cities and organizations have two bleak choices: sue or pony up $1.7 billion.
Overhauling public-sector retirement funds for sustainability is a political swamp. But failing to act now would be catastrophic.
A novel collaboration effort is paying off, getting more children into homes while saving money.
A public-private coalition of adoption services in Texas is getting many more kids into homes and saving money in the process.
How can employees and managers address and benefit from changes in government? Patrick Ibarra, a former city manager and now workforce consultant, provides insight on how to keep employees focused and engaged.
Some local governments are moving boldly ahead with sustainability initiatives that link to broader community goals.
Readers recommended their own up-and-coming state legislators in this third legislators-to-watch list.
Accounting standards are splitting away from pension funding policies.
Realistic convention-center performance measures would help public officials see the market more clearly as they make decisions about expansion proposals.
Plus, what might a lost NFL or NBA season cost your state and city?
Rather than waiting for Washington to decide what hits state and local governments will take to reduce the federal deficit, they should be part of the process.
Federal deficit reduction in the trillions is on the way. Rather than being served up for dinner, it would be far better if state and local governments were helping the feds prepare the meal.
Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone believes that the state is “ungovernable” and proposes that 13 conservative counties split from California.
The agency says the state guidelines are intentionally designed to promote flexibility.
The alleged scam affected at least 93 municipal bond transactions in 31 states, according to federal authorities.
A new proposal by Rep. John Mica would provide nearly $20 billion less each year than the Senate would.
Innovators can engage with relevant stakeholders and resources in new ways to create a good greater than any individual actor could create on its own.
Cuts targeting poverty-fighting programs will come back to haunt us.
Big changes are under way in some locales, but some unions are holding out.
Another school-cheating scandal -- this time in Atlanta -- could be a signal of a nationwide issue.
Plus: Misconduct in the school cafeteria, and more management news
Instead of a single government entity trying to solve a problem, cross-boundary collaboration allows a whole group of players to tackle tough policy challenges.
As the story behind the U.S. Constitution illustrates, history is chock full of lessons on collaborative leadership.
Nearly $527 million will be available to state and local governments.
In government, the customer may not always be right, but they're still always the customer.
The new fiscal year for most states begins July 1. With it comes an increase in their portion of the Medicaid burden.
In opposing the strict federal education law, state education leaders seek to take control by defying requirements.
With Washington paralyzed by its debt and states facing deficits, the pressure is on local governments to raise more revenue or make significant structural changes to reduce costs.
Public employees are at the front of the firing line, paying the price for widespread voter angst.
When states determine to make some kind of cut with regard to agencies, it's important to differentiate between them.
A new tool helps agencies measure the value of transparency, trust and accountability.
Small urban manufacturers offer economic benefits to cities and could flourish with federal policy support.
Political rhetoric comes down to being for or against taxes with little discussion about their effect on economic development.
In Oregon, hard legislative choices reflect national structural changes under way.
Mary Taylor is the only deputy to also serve as the state insurance commissioner, a position she balances along with heading up a regulatory reform commission.
Before Baltimore could help its most at-risk populations, it first had to make them see public services in a positive light.
San Francisco became the first city in the country to ban phone books that many say are wasteful and outdated.
A Massachusetts town's award-winning program that puts healthy choices at the heart of its planning efforts has been mirrored by others around the country.
A new initiative in Washington aims to cut red tape and offer greater flexibility to state and local governments administering federal programs.
In recent years, state legislators and school boards nationwide have been paving the way for people with little or no education experience to lead districts.
One Texas county saw a chance to cash in on radioactive waste by hosting a national dump site for it and collecting money from each state that participates.
More than half the price of a pack of cigarettes is taxes and other fees, which states don't get when smugglers and bootleggers find a way around them.
Due to the lower construction costs and higher safety rates of roundabouts compared to traffic lights, they're more popular than ever.
It is true that leaders of New York's Civil Service Employees Association agreed to a major pay and benefits contract. But this should not be mistaken as a victory for Gov. Cuomo or a concession from the union yet.
Information technology is finally infiltrating classrooms and making educational institutions better.
IT-enabled innovation has long passed education by, but cost pressures may finally change that.
One officer’s battle with cancer inspired him to take a new approach to policing.
In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court shot down a California law, which bans the sale of violent video games to minors.
Morgantown, W.Va., is the only place in the world where riders can hop into cars and travel from point to point without stopping at other stations along the way.
Arkansas Medicaid Director Gene Gessow is leading the state's efforts to create the nation’s first statewide payment system.
A National Association of Bond Lawyers discussion draft suggests 10-year projections.
To increase minority and women contracting, New York City is working to remove obstacles that impede an efficient marketplace for goods and services.
A new report from the U.S. Conference of mayors projects when unemployment will return to pre-recession levels in more than 360 metro areas.
Six ideas on how to freshen up a classic practice.
Six ideas for implementing government policy ethically, collaboratively, on time and within budget.
Plus: Harmful transparency and more management news
On the heels of a comprehensive study about the huge price tag on California's death row, one state senator proposes to abolish the death penalty once and for all.
Good municipal benchmarking doesn't provide all the answers, but it helps us ask all the right questions.
Tax amnesties are unpopular with the public. On the other hand, they raise much-needed money in this cash-strapped climate.
As federal officials slash programs that aid state and local governments, mayors say savings should be found elsewhere.
Stanford University lawyers gear up with a political consultant to pitch a reform initiative for one of the harshest sentencing laws in the nation.
An insightful report from Barclay's Capital sheds new light on pension obligations.
