Nine ‘Mega’ Projects Score Grants Totaling Over $1 Billion
Nearly $300 million of the federal funding will go to a high-profile rail tunnel project linking New York City and New Jersey.
State & Local Roundup: Wealth Tax Proposals on the Rise
While some states debate the so-called millionaires taxes, others are weighting cuts to levies on income and property. Plus: News you can use from across the country.
Are Mayors Open to Federal Budget Cuts? It Depends Who You Ask
Route Fifty caught up with mayors from around the country to get their views on Republican threats to chop federal spending.
Critics Take Aim at State and Local ARPA Spending on Prisons and Jails
The American Civil Liberties Union is among those raising questions about federal Covid aid from the American Rescue Plan Act going to corrections projects.
A New Initiative Seeks to Help Small Cities Access Infrastructure Funding
The program will work with communities to assemble strong grant applications that can win some of the billions of dollars available.
2022’s Billion-Dollar Disasters: Climate Change Helped Make It US’s 3rd Most Expensive Year on Record
Climate change seems to be making natural disasters more expensive.
How a Bankrupt City’s Pension System Hit a Breaking Point
The case of Chester, Pennsylvania involves hidden debt, missing documentation and lots of blame. Route Fifty takes a closer look in this second installment of a three-part series.
Mayors Fret Over Possibility of ARPA Clawbacks
Detroit’s mayor urged others to speed up putting American Rescue Plan Act funds to use and to take special care that spending adheres to federal rules. He's not the only one raising concerns.
States Put Grocery Taxes on Ice
Two more states are tossing grocery taxes; others are considering it.
New Law Will Cap Phone Call Prices in Prisons and Jails
It marks a major win for advocates who have for years argued incarcerated people are getting overcharged for calls. But it will also crimp a revenue source for states and localities.
Market Losses Deal Heavy Dent to State and Local Pensions
Last year saw unfunded liabilities for the nation’s largest public retirement plans climb by roughly a half-trillion dollars.
EPA Unveils $100 Million in Environmental Justice Grants
The Environmental Protection Agency announcement is part of a larger effort by the Biden administration to fight climate change and curb environmental harm in long-neglected communities.
A Small City's Descent Into Bankruptcy
"By far the worst that we have encountered," is how one person involved in resolving the fiscal mess described it. This first article in a three-part series, looks at how the troubled city's situation resembles another municipal bankruptcy about a decade ago.
The Case for More Federal Oversight of State and Local Budgets
An influential good government group is calling for tighter standards and is out with new recommendations for how Congress and regulators can begin taking action.
'Green Banks,' Poised for Billions in Climate Funds, Draw States' Attention
These banks provide financing for projects from efficient appliances to solar panels.
A ‘Bootcamp’ to Help Smaller Cities Win Infrastructure Grants
Small and midsize localities tend to lack the dedicated grant-writing teams and expertise that bigger towns use to score federal dollars. A new–and free–initiative aims to get them onto more equal footing competing for the funding.
What the $1.7 Trillion Spending Bill Includes for States and Localities
Congressional lawmakers fought back attempts by conservatives to delay the legislation until next year, approving billions for infrastructure, new regional technology hubs, homelessness programs and other state and local government priorities.
States and Localities Poised to Gain New Flexibility With ARPA Funds
The massive spending bill moving ahead in Congress was amended to allow for American Rescue Plan Act aid to go toward new uses, including disaster recovery and transportation infrastructure.
$45M for New Trails Grants Included in Federal Funding Deal
Cycling and pedestrian advocates had pressed for more, but say the money included in the legislation would be a good start.
Here's What Was Left Out of the $1.7 Trillion Federal Spending Bill
A number of provisions state and local governments had been seeking were excluded, including renewed expansions of tax credit programs that help support low-income housing and households with kids.
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