Author Archive
Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene
Finance
Getting the 'Bosses of Procurement' to Understand its Strategic Value
State procurement departments have been front and center during the pandemic. Once the crisis wanes, focus on procurement may diminish, but officials say it needs ongoing high-level attention.
Tech & Data
Centralizing State IT Functions Gains Momentum
Connecticut is building an information technology organization within its government, joining a number of other states consolidating people, hardware and software to reduce costs and inefficiencies.
Management
'A Troubling Trend': Independent State Program Evaluation Under Attack
Without a vote, the legislative leadership in North Carolina closed the state’s program evaluation division. Experts say the growing power of legislative leaders presents an accelerating danger for transparent, publicly available evaluation.
Infrastructure
What Can Parks Do When Demand Rises as Budgets Decline?
Though there may be greater appreciation for the nation’s parks, many are still fighting for funding. Some states are finding solutions.
Health & Human Services
If Your State is Struggling With the Vaccine Rollout, This Is Probably Why
Intergovernmental relations are never easy. But they’re vital when confronting the logistical nightmare of inoculating a nation.
Finance
Equity Budgeting in Cities: Directing Dollars Where They’re Needed Most
A growing number of cities are turning to their budget offices to help treat historically underserved communities more fairly.
Health & Human Services
Paid Sick Leave and the Prolonged Pandemic
State HR officials are concerned that if they can’t find a way to extend paid sick leave benefits, employees will start showing up to work contagious.
Smart Cities
How Downtowns Can Rebound After the Pandemic
They have to offer more than office space.
Management
A Burnout Crisis Hits Government
COMMENTARY | A soon-to-be released survey reveals some surprising findings about local and state public sector employees’ struggles and how helping them feel connected to each other can reduce burnout.
Tech & Data
How to Fairly Use Algorithms to Make Tough Decisions
COMMENTARY | With computer power increasingly used to guide policies adopted by states and local leaders, governments need to take steps to ensure the underlying algorithms aren’t biased.
Health & Human Services
More Crucial Than Ever, EMS Agencies Are Short Staffed and Overworked
COMMENTARY | Adequately staffing emergency medical services has been a problem for some time, potentially putting lives at stake. The pandemic threatens to make shortages worse.
Featured eBooks
Tech & Data
Can Better Data Fix America’s Policing Crisis?
COMMENTARY | As society debates law enforcement reform, far better data is necessary to provide a road map for needed changes.
Finance
The Draining of State Rainy Day Funds
COMMENTARY | At least 10 states have already tapped their emergency reserves, even as budget experts expect the worst revenue declines caused by the coronavirus pandemic to come in the months and years ahead.
Public Safety
Why We Need to Pay Attention to Police Officers’ Mental Health
COMMENTARY | A new study found that as police are under more scrutiny than ever, their mental health struggles remain profound.
Tech & Data
Shrinking State and Local Government Office Space
COMMENTARY | With states and local officials searching for ways to cut budgets, many are looking to reduce how much real estate they occupy.
Infrastructure
What Happens Next With Affordable Housing?
COMMENTARY | States and local governments already haven’t been investing enough to help build housing that poor families, and sometimes even middle-class people, can afford. And now funding could be yet another victim of the coronavirus.
Management
The Escalating Crisis in Police Hiring
COMMENTARY | As revenues drop and passionate debates over police mission, budget and purpose continue, cities still face the arduous task of recruiting top-notch candidates.
Management
The Poor Performance of Performance Contracts
States and local governments have embraced “performance contracts,” requiring contractors to meet certain objectives. Too often, however, they don’t actually check on the success in meeting these goals.
Public Safety
Can Civilian Oversight Change Police Behavior?
COMMENTARY | Cities across the country are looking at creating police oversight bodies. That makes questions about their efficacy and value more important than ever.
Management