Author Archive
Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene
Finance
Are tax incentives boons or boondoggles?
Though there’s lots of evidence that the economic development tool may not be effective, it is still in wide use. Fortunately, there are ways to control the potential waste of taxpayer dollars.
Workforce
How improvements in onboarding can lower employee turnover
One of the greatest challenges confronting state and local governments is a badly understaffed workforce. Here’s one technological and personal way to confront that problem.
Finance
How one city is looking to future-proof its budgeting process
Nationwide, cities are attempting to improve their budgeting. But none appear to be taking more dramatic steps than fast-growing Fort Worth, Texas.
Management
‘IGNITE’ing an educational fire in U.S. jails
An initiative launched in a Michigan county jail has been embraced as a national model for reducing jail violence and inmate recidivism.
Cybersecurity
An underused approach to fighting cyberattacks
The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center offers free services to help localities with cybersecurity. Why aren’t more governments using them?
Workforce
Solving the problem of understaffed jails and prisons
State and local governments are working to attract and retain corrections workers. But it’s not easy, and the task is complicated by high burnout rates due to understaffing.
Workforce
A Model for Reducing Female Incarceration and Breaking the Generational Cycle
A program in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been changing lives for addicted women and their children. Here’s how it works.
Management
Will States Force Localities to Build Affordable Housing?
The need for more housing in America is undeniable. But with localities unlikely to change zoning laws to create more, states are stepping in.
Management
How One State Is Confronting PTSD Among Police Officers
Concerns abound about post-traumatic stress disorder in law enforcement. Minnesota, where the problem is acute, has ideas about how to curb the costs and keep more police working in the field.
Workforce
Can Performance Pay Help States and Cities Hang onto the Best and Brightest?
After years in which compensation tied to performance was considered a “failed experiment,” workforce pressures are bringing it back to the table again.
Digital Government
The CHIPS Act Challenge for State and Local Governments
The federal government has a powerful policy vision for the development of a vibrant U.S. semiconductor industry. How those visions play out is of intense interest.
Featured eBooks
Finance
An Attack on Auditor Independence Jeopardizes One State’s Fiscal Future
The Iowa Senate passed a bill that severely limits its auditor’s access to critical documents. The ramifications could be severe.
Digital Government
Data-Based Decision-Making Is Flawed When the Data Is Flawed
There are many reasons the quality of state and local data can be poor. Using that information can lead to unfortunate results.
Workforce
Finding Public Sector Workers in High Schools
Though many young people are ignorant about jobs in the public sector, internships can help educate them and draw them into the workforce.
Workforce
An Often-Overlooked Reason for Public Sector Job Vacancies
Agencies have struggled to recruit and retain workers, but it’s not uncommon for them to hold jobs open in order to shift salary dollars around in their budgets to cover other costs.
Workforce
When the Infrastructure Boom Meets the Workforce Crash
With federal dollars pouring into state and local governments for infrastructure, there’s one huge challenge: Who will do all the work?
Management
How One State Is Excelling at Process Improvement
Every week Nebraska is contacted by other states to learn how it is saving staff time, streamlining projects and delivering better customer services. Here’s why.
Management
How One State is Curbing Growth in Health Care Costs
Massachusetts is known for high medical expenses. But a unique initiative there is helping to dramatically slow increases and has other states taking notice. Here’s how it works.
Workforce
Government Employee Input—‘Shark Tank’ Style
Missouri has a way for frontline state employees to pitch ideas to high-level judges in hopes of getting them implemented. It's based on a reality TV show.
Workforce