Federal Watchdog Calls for National Online Sales Tax Standards
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have shown interest in the idea. But any plan along these lines is sure to draw skepticism from states and localities worried about ceding their power over tax policy.
How Your State Can Reduce Fraud With Marijuana Tax Payments
COMMENTARY | Governments can be unaware of whether they are receiving the correct revenues from cannabis sales. But there are options available to help agencies root out noncompliance, improve forecasts, and potentially up collections.
This Midwestern City Plans to Wipe Out Residents’ Medical Debt
The new program follows a similar one launched in Cook County, Illinois earlier this year.
How Tax Credits Could Help States Reduce Child Poverty by 25%
A well-designed plan would collectively cost 2.6% of total state and local revenue and complement existing federal policies, according to the Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy.
The House Republican Plan to Slash One of Democrats’ Signature Laws
Lawmakers set to lead key committees when the GOP takes control of the chamber say they are looking at ways to drain funding from climate initiatives and other Inflation Reduction Act programs.
Latest Round of Grant Funding Opens for Public Arts Projects
The Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative will offer awards of up to $1 million. Cities with over 30,000 people are eligible to apply.
Borrowing to Backfill Public Pensions Makes a Comeback
Low interest rates made the potentially risky and often criticized practice more attractive. But then the stock market plummeted, complicating the outlook for some places that took on the debt.
Voters in One State Approve a Tax on Millionaires
And in another they eliminated tax breaks for higher earners. But national trends with ballot initiatives to tax the wealthy are mixed overall this year and hard to interpret.
West Virginia Ballot Measure Has Local Officials ‘Very, Very Nervous’
A proposal before voters would eliminate a key source of revenue for the state’s local governments and end a tax on people’s cars.
2 Practical Approaches to More Equitable Government Spending
It's been over two years since policy-makers began to redouble equity efforts with state and local budgets and programs. Here's a look at where things stand with some of that work.
A Fight Over How Tax Hikes are Passed at the Ballot Box
A proposal before Arizona voters would change the threshold for approving tax initiatives from a simple majority to 60%. Is it a check on outside groups funding tax-and-spend measures? Or a hit to citizens' power to approve new funding for their priorities?
A City Asks Residents to Vote on Which Infrastructure Projects to Fund
Denver is turning to “participatory budgeting” to decide how it will use a small slice of its budget for public works projects.
The US Cities With the Highest Rents
An East Coast metro scooted by San Francisco to become the second-most expensive for a one-bedroom apartment this month. As nationally, growth in rent prices showed signs of slowing.
Rent Going Up? One Company’s Algorithm Could Be Why
Texas-based RealPage’s YieldStar software helps landlords set prices for apartments across the U.S. With rents soaring, critics are concerned that the company’s proprietary algorithm is hurting competition.
The States That Still Owe Billions in Federal Unemployment Loans
They took on the debt after Covid hit. If they don’t repay it soon, it will mean tax hikes for businesses. Republicans are knocking Democratic governors who’ve let the balances linger.
Can a State Erase Property Taxes Without Wiping out Education?
The long, difficult and ongoing quest to reduce property taxes in Pennsylvania.
What the Housing Market Slowdown Will Mean for Property Taxes
Red hot home sales during the pandemic have cooled and that could have consequences for one of the main revenues local governments rely on. But the outlook varies place to place.
Cities and States Bristle Over Proposal to Change How They Report on Finances
Congress is weighing a plan that calls for overhauling how state and local government financial data is made public, stirring worries about new costs for software and staff. But supporters of the revamp say it’s long overdue.
Treasury Shuts Down Helpline for States and Localities
Due to a funding crunch left unaddressed by Congress, the department is phasing out phone and email services to field questions about billions in pandemic aid.
A Leading Republican Looks to Get Tough on the SALT Deduction
Rep. Adrian Smith, who is vying to be the top Republican on the House Ways & Means Committee, views the state and local tax deduction as a potential federal “subsidy” for liberal policies.
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