Finance
US disaster relief funding is running dry as Helene roars through
Congress opted not to replenish the FEMA disaster fund before it left town this week. It’s not the first time lawmakers have left the emergency management agency short of cash.
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Eliminate Manual Processes Route and Approve Invoices from Anywhere
Today’s finance teams carry a heavy burden, supporting everything from growth strategies to long-term planning – all while continuously delivering monthly and quarterly numbers and keeping cash flowing. But even as demands on finance departments grow, many still spend excessive time using paper, spreadsheets, and e-mails to process vendor invoices, approvals, and payments.
Congress averts a shutdown, setting up a lame duck fight in December
A stopgap funding bill is heading to Biden's desk as Congress staves off a pre-election shutdown.
Tax the sale of guns and ammo? Voters in this state are set to decide.
A ballot measure in Colorado is the only one on guns before voters this year. The effort is part of a broader trend to expand excise taxes.
Bipartisan deal looks to punt shutdown threat into December
States and cities don't need to fear federal worker furloughs in the near future.
Ballots in two cities aim to keep soda taxes from falling flat
Taxing sugary drinks can raise cities’ revenue and improve people’s health, according to research. But state restrictions and industry pushback have stalled such taxes. Can two ballot measures change that?
In an unprecedented move, Ohio is funding construction of private religious schools
The state is giving millions in taxpayer dollars directly to private schools to help them renovate and expand their campuses. It may be the next frontier in the push to increase the use of school vouchers, proponents say.
What the Federal Reserve’s policy shift means for state and local budgets
The Federal Reserve intended for its first rate cut in four years to stimulate the broader economy, but the decision will also gradually effect state and local budgets.
Water system upgrades could require more than $1 trillion over next 20 years
Studies show how aging infrastructure and climate change are creating huge financial obstacles for cities and water utilities.
Inside the tricky politics of special legislative sessions
Governors in several states are trying to get their priorities passed before the November election.
A $100 fine should never equal jail time
COMMENTARY | Several states have begun to change their laws to remove unjust or inequitably implemented fines and fees. It's a start, but states need to do more.
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Public voices often ignored in states’ opioid settlement money decisions
People, including those who have lost loved ones to the opioid crisis or are dealing with it daily, are routinely shut out of having a meaningful say in how the settlement windfall can be best used to address the damage.
Facing natural disasters, more lawmakers look to make oil companies pay for the damage
The oil industry rejects the idea that as contributors to climate change, they are legally liable for disaster damages.
Sports betting is soaking ‘financially constrained’ households
After sports betting was legalized, people saved less and gambled more.
How one state has risen as ‘a leader’ in medical debt protections
Many states are cracking down on medical debt collection and payment practices, but New York’s efforts stand out, one expert says.
Food prices are high. To help, states are cutting the grocery tax.
The number of states that still tax groceries is shrinking. Voters in two states will decide in November whether to join a movement away from the sales tax.
Ballot questions tackle high property taxes that come with rising home values
Colorado’s new cap on property tax revenue isn’t enough for some activists. Conservatives elsewhere agree.
Guaranteed income programs might improve people's lives, but not their health
A new study examining cash transfer programs' effects on participants' health found limited impact.
States could struggle to cut workforce costs in next downturn
It's a well-worn script. When states face budget challenges, they typically look to cut personnel spending first. But that might not work this time.
Kansas v. Missouri stadium battle shows how states are reigniting border wars
Kansas may spend billions of dollars to lure pro sports teams from Missouri, just a few miles away.
A tweak to the tax code could break “honest graft” and fix the housing crisis
COMMENTARY | Antiquated tax policies have long rewarded speculators who sit on vacant land and penalized landowners who build something on it. A land value tax could change that.
