Fitch Downgrades Rating on Chicago Debt to One Notch Above Junk
The move by the ratings agency comes after the Illinois Supreme Court last week ruled against a law aimed at reining in public employee pension liabilities.
Mich. Municipal League: State Is ‘Strategically Disinvesting in Our Communities Right Now’
One fiscally distressed city says it is “just one step away from becoming a Flint and a Detroit.”
State and Local Daily Digest: Okla.’s Dismal Budget News; Conn. Lawmakers Look at Weaponized Drone Ban
Also in our news roundup: Floods shut bridges between Texas and Louisiana; pothole season is in full swing; Alabama city embraces higher municipal minimum wage.
Public-Private Partnerships Offer School Kitchen Grants to More Districts
Some funds designated for equipment under $5,000
Report Looks at Ways to Close San Francisco's Digital Divide
A Municipal Fiber Advisory Panel is looking at options to bring affordable, high-speed broadband Internet connectivity to all residents.
State and Local Weekend Digest: Hawaii’s Girl Scout Cookie Tax; Ala. Prison Riot Video
Also in our news roundup: Tulsa’s music dreams; testing for toxins in Flint’s dogs; and Rhode Island toll bridge scofflaws.
Why Small Cities and Counties Rarely Merge
Although the consolidation of jurisdictions can streamline services and achieve cost savings, a combination of history, politics and pride can be big stumbling blocks.
Federal Tax Reform Raises Questions, Possible Revenue Changes for States
All but one of the 41 states, plus the District of Columbia, with broad-based personal income taxes link to the federal tax code.
Why Taxing the Wealthy Can Be Trouble for States
While nonwage income typically makes up a small share of state budgets, the share is large enough in some states that unexpected shortfalls—or surpluses—can create multi-million dollar spending problems.
A Tangled Budget Mess Mires Municipal Government in Paterson, N.J.
Ongoing acrimony continues to fracture relations between the mayor, city council members and the state in this fiscally distressed North Jersey city.
D.C. Metro's New General Manager: Troubled Agency Must 'Confront Some Hard Truths'
Commuters in the nation's capital have lost confidence in their once-proud transit system. Can Paul Wiedefeld save WMATA from its death spiral?
Exploring the Promise and Pitfalls of Public-Private Partnerships
“You need to really get yourself acclimated and educated,” says one expert who will attend a three-day conference in Dallas this week.
SLED Market On Pace for Modest Procurement Growth in 2016 Thanks to Smart Cities
Investment in smart infrastructure will fuel increased bids and RFPs, according to business intelligence firm Onvia.
Temporary Budget Patch Ends Partial Government Shutdown in N.J. City
Paterson, New Jersey suspended many basic services on Tuesday, including trash pick-ups and after school programs.
Employment Rates Creep Closer to Pre-Recession Levels
Nationwide, an average of 77.2 percent of prime-working-age adults were employed in 2015, up from lows of about 75 percent after the 2007-09 recession.
Citizen-Centric Reporting: Informing the Public Is the Government’s Responsibility
Here’s why a ‘less is more’ approach to government transparency leads to a better informed citizenry.
A Two-Pronged Approach to Combating Identity-Based Income Tax Fraud
The District of Columbia government has no way of knowing how much it was defrauded for last tax season. And that’s alarming since it stopped $36 million in bogus refunds.
As Nation Moves to a Service Economy, States Look to Tax It More
In states from Arizona to Oklahoma, lawmakers are considering bills that would impose the sales tax on services ranging from beauty salons to funeral homes.
Forget Downtown. Smart City Districts Are the New Social and Economic Hubs
A new White House report urges the creation of financing mechanisms to create more development areas geared toward innovation.
When Big Transit Visions Meet Complex Flowcharts for Planning and Budgeting
San Francisco wants to expand its Muni network. But explaining the process to advance those plans isn’t easy.
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