Local Government Management

Government Needs to Rehabilitate Its Image to Attract and Retain Workers

COMMENTARY | The “Great Resignation” has created a talent drain. The public sector must make its hiring process more user friendly and create a positive employee experience.

  • By Bob Lavigna

6 Public Sector Workforce Trends to Watch in 2022

Government employees are seeking nontraditional benefits and diversity, equity and inclusion, among other things, according to a new report.

  • By Andre Claudio

Desperate for State Workers, Governors Offer Raises to Keep Them

There are huge budget surpluses in most states.

  • By Sophie Quinton, Stateline

A Pandemic Silver Lining: Public Meetings Have Become More Public

Covid-19 forced governments to have all virtual gatherings. There are disadvantages, government leaders say, but a hybrid meeting model may be here to stay.

  • By Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene

Rethinking Public Sector Job Descriptions

COMMENTARY | Writing job descriptions so that they're clear, concise and honest can help attract talent to local governments.

  • By Patrick Mohorcic

Grappling With the Public Sector Workforce Shortage Crush

When positions aren’t appealing to applicants, sometimes the jobs need to be changed, government hiring officials say.

  • By Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene

Living When Things Suck in Government

COMMENTARY | Things are not good right now and it's time to acknowledge it.

  • By Lacey Dykgraaf

Localities and States Are Turning to Data Analytics to Catch Fraudsters—and It's Working

Electronic analysis can be costly, but low-tech paper systems don't work anymore, government officials say.

  • By Sharon O'Malley

The Government Job Application Drop-off is 'Snowballing'

The data is alarming: Between fiscal 2019 and 2021, applications per job dropped 32% in states and localities, data shows. But there are strategies to counteract the trend.

  • By Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene

Billions Are Coming From Washington. The Fraudsters and the Corrupt Are Drooling.

COMMENTARY | Local governments should recognize the potential threat of corrupt uses of federal stimulus money by public officials. There are some steps auditors and honest public leaders can take to prevent fraudulent activity.

  • By Mark Funkhouser

'An Absolutely Fascinating' Local Government Job

Coroners operate "in the shadows of local government" and their profession is misunderstood. Longtime coroner Dotti Owens explains why "this is my thing."

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Most Local Governments Provide Cyber Awareness Training. Why Do 25% Let Elected Leaders Opt Out?

A new survey from the CompTIA Public Technology Institute highlights cybersecurity concerns among municipal IT professionals, including remote work and rising insurance premiums.

  • By Andrea Noble
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Vultures Descend on Small Town—and Won't Leave

For nearly a year, officials in Bunn, in northeastern North Carolina, have tried to deter dozens of buzzards from roosting on local buildings. Even propane cannon aren't working.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

The Mayor’s Guide to Spending Federal Aid

COMMENTARY | Cities should use the rescue funds to make big and bold changes that will propel them into the future.

  • By Rip Rapson

3 Strategies for Advancing Facial Recognition Technology in Policing

As more agencies launch FRT programs, standard best practices should be discussed regularly to ensure this technology protects citizen’s privacy and civil liberties, according to a recent report.

  • By Andre Claudio

Creating More Capital for Underserved Communities Through State-owned Banks

COMMENTARY | Several states are considering establishing a banking system to boost the financial health of their local economies.

  • By Michael A. Pagano

‘Moms for Liberty’ Group Sets Sights on Local Government 

Leaders hope to create a national ‘parental rights’ movement, starting with school board activism. The group already has 135 chapters in 35 states.

  • By Tom Shoop

How Cities and Counties Are Prioritizing American Rescue Plan Funds

Infrastructure was the top investment priority for communities of all sizes, followed by replacing lost public sector revenue, according to a recent report.

  • By Andre Claudio

Cracking Cold Cases: Police Turn to Podcasts to Track Down Killers

Law enforcement officials say that department-sponsored podcasts—free, easy to download and available on demand—are perfect for disseminating information. (America’s true-crime obsession doesn’t hurt.)

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

How to Budget for Equity and Drive Lasting Change

COMMENTARY | State and local governments should prioritize equity in their budgets by using data, being outcome driven and engaging the whole community.

  • By Andrew Kleine and Josh Inaba

How the Pandemic Can Help Government Prepare for Future Crises

COMMENTARY | A new report provides a dozen lessons learned from Covid-19 that can help governments at all levels deal with diseases and natural disasters to come.

  • By Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene