HOT OFF THE PRESSES.

Cities  Are Increasingly Embracing Violence Intervention Programs to Control Deadly Violence, September 3, 2024​​

Initial research indicates the approach is working—saving lives and money. But supporters admit more analysis is needed.

Should Vermont's Child Care Solution Be Every State's? August 20, 2024

Legislation passed last year may show a path forward as states across the country look to tackle child care crisis.

The Devil Is In the (Financial Reporting) Details, Route Fifty, July 22, 2024, by Katherine Barrett and Richard Greene

​States and localities don’t have the manpower to handle the current load of burdensome financial reporting requirements—let alone the series of new ones announced yearly. They're pushing back.

'Skills-Based Hiring Smashes Through 'Paper Ceiling',  July 15, 2024, 

Multiple states have embraced a movement to drop degree requirements for certain jobs. But the change is not as simple as a stroke of a pen.

The Great Salt Lake City Tax Tradeoff,  June 17, 2024, 

​In a few weeks, the city council will be voting on a 0.5% sales tax to support economic development downtown. But it’s not the money that is drawing all the attention, it’s what the city is giving up.

More Cities Are Seeing Budget Gaps: Here's Not What To Do, June 10, 2024

A growing number of cities are having to make tough decisions this spring in order to balance next year’s budgets.

With the rise of AI, workforce planning is critical. But many governments don’t do it, May 15, 2024

            That’s a problem when state and local government officials are seeing daily evidence that the nature of their workforce is quickly changing.

'Invisible' No More: States Move to Hire People With Disabilities,  May 8, 2024

           Tapping potential employees with “non-apparent” conditions like autism, attention deficit disorder and chronic depression can bring qualified candidates to a public sector workforce in desperate need of talent.

How Collaboration Is Changing North Carolina One Project at a time, April 16, 2024

          States that want to tap universities and philanthropies to find solutions to policy challenges using the best research, evidence and data should look at how one state mastered the communications and logistics essential for effective partnerships.

Emergency Alert: States Confront EMS Shortages,  April 8, 2024, 

         Minnesota declared an “EMS emergency” last month, but it’s far from alone. An outdated approach to funding the service is largely to blame, says experts.

Trust in Government and Opportunities to Rebuild It,  February 21, 2024,  (Second of a two-part series)

           Confidence in state and local government may have been waning in recent years, but there are ways communities can help to bolster their resident’s faith in them.

How Trusted Are State and Local Governments, February 14, 2024 (First of a two-part series)

         Confidence in lower levels of government may be better than in the federal government, but it’s still not nearly good enough. And that stands in the way of state and local leaders’ ability to get things done.

The Future of Government Jobs: Post Generative AI, January 3, 2024

         In the wake of dramatic technological advances, the workplace of the future will be far different than was envisioned a year ago.

Mental Health is Fast Becoming the Bipartisan Issue of Our Time, December 13, 2023AA

        States from California to Texas are increasingly investing in mental health as a recognition takes hold that the status quo isn’t working.

Data Literacy: The Drive to Educate the Public Sector Workforce, December 5, 2023

        As data-based decision-making becomes ever more important, data academies begin to blossom in local government.

Apprenticeship Programs Are Growing As the Public Sector Faces Workforce Shortages, November 20, 2024

       Registered apprenticeships, infrequently used by state and local governments in the past, are gaining the attention of staff-starved agencies.

Access to Public Documents is 'Deteriorating Terribly',  October 31, 2023

        Registered apprenticeships, infrequently used by state/local governments in the past, are gaining the attention of staff-starved        agencies.

Understanding Gen Z in the Public Sector,  October 3, 2023

• Managers can benefit by better engaging and communicating with the news generaion of workers in cities, counties and states.

Are tax incentives boons or boondoggles, September 18, 2023

• 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.

How improvements in onboarding can lower employee turnover, September 11, 2023

• 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.

How one city is looking to future-proof its budgeting practices, August 22, 2023

• Nationwide, cities are attempting to improve their budgeting. But none appear to be taking more dramatic steps than fast-growing Fort Worth, Texas.

'IGNITE'ing an educational fire in U.S. jails, August 14, 2023

• An initiative launched in a Michigan county jail has been embraced as a national model for reducing jail violence and inmate recidivism.

An Underused Approach to Fighting Cyberattacks, July 31, 2023

• The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center offers free services to help localities with cybersecurity. Why aren’t more governments using them?

Solving the Problem of Understaffed Jails and Prisons, July 5, 2023

• 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.

A Model for Reducing Female Incarceration and Breaking the Generational Cycle, June 12, 2023

• A program in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been changing lives for addicted women and their children. Here’s how it works.

Will States Force Localities to Build Affordable Housing, May 17, 2023

• The need for more housing in America is undeniable. But with localities unlikely to change zoning laws to create more, states are stepping in.

How One State is Confronting PTSD Among Police Officers, April 27, 2023

• 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.

Can Performance Pay Help States Hang onto the Best and the Brightest, April 12, 2023

• After years in which compensation tied to performance was considered a “failed experiment,” workforce pressures are bringing it back to the table again.

The CHIPS Act Challenge for State and Local Government, March 28, 2023

• 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.

An Attack on Auditor Independence Jeopardizes One State's Fiscal Future,  March 16, 2023

• The Iowa Senate passed a bill that severely limits its auditor’s access to critical documents. The ramifications could be severe.

Data-Based Decision-Making is Flawed When the Data is Flawed,  March 3, 2023 

• There are many reasons the quality of state and local data can be poor. Using that information can lead to unfortunate results.

Finding Public Sector Workers in High Schools, February 22, 2022

• Though many young people are ignorant about jobs in the public sector, internships can help educate them and draw them into the workforce.

An Overlooked Reason for Public Sector Job Vacancies,  January 31, 2023

• 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.

When the Infrastructure Boom Meets the Workforce Crash,  January 17, 2023

• With federal dollars pouring into state and local governments for infrastructure, there's one huge challenge: Who will do all the work? 

How One State is Excelling at Process Improvement, December 15, 2022

• On a weekly basis, Nebraska is contacted by other states to learn how it is saving staff time, streamlining projects and delivering better customer services. Here’s why.

How One State is Curbing Growth in Health Care Costs, December 5, 2022

• 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.

Government Employee Input—‘Shark Tank’ Style, November 13, 2022

The Future of Government Jobs series, three columns, published on October 31, November 1 and November 2, 2022. 

Building a More Diverse Public Sector Hiring Pipeline, October 11, 2022

• Local governments are rethinking how they go about connecting with job candidates. “It’s just not enough to post a position and then say we have no qualified diverse talent,” says one official.

How to Retain Citizen's Trust After a Financial Scandal, July 25, 2022

• Just getting rid of the people involved isn't enough. A complex task follows for local leaders to restore faith in the government.

How Cities and Counties Are Thinking Big with their ARPA Plans, July 5, 2022

• Across the country, some local governments are using federal aid from the American Rescue Plan to launch "transformational" projects in areas like affordable housing, public safety and ridding homes of lead—things that will endure long after the money is spent.

Why Job Applicants are Frustrated by the State and Local Government Hiring Process, June 28, 2022.

• New survey findings reveal that many workers are interested in public sector jobs, but get bogged down in the application phase.

The ‘Impossible’ Federal Standard that States Can’t Meet as They Work to Assist Low-Income Families, June 13, 2022

• Critics say a longstanding performance metric for work participation that is part of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is faulty and should be reformed.

A State Tries to Attract Public Workers Who Have Resume Gaps, May 24, 2022

• In Utah, a first-of-its kind program provides training and mentorship for people taking government jobs after time away from the workforce.

How to Recruit and Manage Short-Term Workers, May 17, 2022 

• State and local governments have greater reliance on temporary staff, but challenges abound. There are new ways to make these arrangements work.

5 Ways to Overcome the Hiring and Retention Crisis Without Raising Pay, April 18, 2022

• Higher salaries alone are unlikely to be a cure-all for public sector workforce shortages. Some states and localities are experimenting with other approaches for attracting and keeping employees.

Successful Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Public Employees, March 31, 2022

• Some department vacancies are 20% to 30%, but governments are making headway filling positions and keeping workers with sign-on bonuses and big hourly wage hikes.

Collaboration Provides Effective Approach to State's Human Services, March 16, 2022

• Oklahoma is on the cutting edge of a national trend bringing foundations, nonprofits and the Department of Human Services together to help residents in need.

Local Leaders Cannot Hide from Technology, February 25, 2022

• The National Association of Counties is launching a new effort to help public sector officials better understand technology so they can make informed decisions about cybersecurity, as well as other topics such as budgeting and staffing.

How Cities and Counties are Dumping Abandoned Properties, February 14, 2022

• Vacant building issues include unpaid property taxes, fires, and crime, but localities are making some progress reigning them in. 

Governments Turning to Data to Find Solutions to Equity Issues, January 31, 2022,

• It’s easy for leaders to pronounce that they’re going to make a fairer state or locality. Here's how several states, counties and cities are utilizing information to achieve their goals.

The Public Sector Turnover Crisis, January 17, 2022

• Rising turnover in state and local government has compounded problems of staff shortages that lead to mandatory overtime, employee burnout and compromised service delivery.

How to Effectively Manage the Growing Multigenerational Workforce, December 20, 2021 

• Baby boomers are becoming a smaller part of government staffs. An expert provides guidance on developing and retaining generations X, Y and Z.

A Pandemic Silver Lining: Public Meetings Have Become More Public, December 14, 2021

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

Grappling with the Public Sector Workforce Shortage Crush, November 29, 2021

• When positions aren't appealing to applicants, sometimes the jobs themselves need to be changed.

The Government Job Application Drop-off is 'Snowballing', November 13, 2021

• 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.

Leveraging State and Local Buying Power to Improve Resilience and Accountability, October 25, 2021

• Carefully spent, purchasing dollars can be one of the most important tools to help the nation combat its environmental concerns.

How the Pandemic can Help the Government Prepare for Future Crises, October 7, 2021

• 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. 

The Toll of Compassion Fatigue on Government Employees, September 28, 2021

• Traumas can be contagious. When government workers are exposed to endless stories of pain, they can develop mental health and other problems.

'Public Health Should be 'Pivotal' Part of Emergency Response, September 13, 2021

• Could reform of emergency call systems play an important role in improving safety, as well as police-community relations? A new 911 reform initiative is betting it could."

A Transparent Look at How Governments Are Spending the $350B in ARPA Funds, August 30, 2021

• On Aug. 31, states and large localities had to provide reports on how they are allocating their federal funds. They also have to post them on transparency websites, which can help them learn from one another and coordinate spending plans.

The Public Sector Retirement Explosion, August 24, 2021

• For years, human resources officials have worried about an alarming exodus of government retirees. Now it's here -- and it's because of Covid-19.

How Local Governments Can Prevent Building Disasters, August 9, 2021

• Some governments are beginning to take steps to prevent the kind of tragedy that took the lives of nearly 100 people in a Surfside, Florida condominium collapse in June.

Legislators and Governors Battle Over Who Spends the Rescue Act Money, July 21, 2021

• Power struggles between the executive and legislative branches are nothing new, but they are particularly vigorous with $350 billion in federal dollars at stake.

A Five Step Guide to Spending the American Rescue Plan Money, July 6, 2021

• States and localities have an enormous opportunity to create a better future if they spend the federal rescue funds wisely. Here's how to do that.

How to Fix Skyrocketing Overtime, June 22, 2021

• Overtime is often a necessary cost, but to deploy it effectively officials need reliable data to track where and how it is being used, and who is using it.

Racial Biases Persist in Public Sector Hiring. What Can Be Done? May 24, 2021

• A new study shows that Black candidates are at an enormous disadvantage in making it through the government hiring process. But states and local governments are finding solutions.

Getting the Bosses of Procurement to Understand its Strategic Value, May 7, 2021

• 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.

Centralizing State IT Functions Gains Momentum, April 23, 2021

• 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.

'A Troubling Trend': Independent State Program Evaluation Under Attack, April 16, 2021

• 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.

What Can Parks Do When Demand Rises as Budgets Decline, March 29, 2021

• Though there may be greater appreciation for the nation’s parks, many are still fighting for funding. Some states are finding solutions.

If Your State Is Struggling With the Vaccine Rollout, This Is Probably Why, March 9, 2021

• Intergovernmental relations are never easy. But they’re vital when confronting the logistical nightmare of inoculating a nation.

Equity Budgeting in Cities: Directing Dollars Where They're Needed Most, February 19, 2021

• A growing number of cities are turning to their budget offices to help treat historically underserved communities more fairly.

Paid Sick Leave and the Prolonged Pandemic, January 29, 2021

• 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.

How Downtowns Can Rebound After the Pandemic, January 12, 2021

• They have to offer more than office space.

A Burnout Crisis Hits Government, December 22, 2020

• A soon-to-be-released survey reveals some surprising findings about local and state employees' struggles and how helping them feel connected to each other can reduce burnout.

How to Fairly Use Algorithms to Make Tough Decisions, December 3, 2020

​

More Crucial Than Ever, EMS Agencies are Short Staffed and Overworked, November 19, 2020

• Adequately staffing emergency medical services has been a problem for some time, potentially putting lives at stake. The pandemic threatens to make shortages worse.

Can Better Data Fix America's Policing Crisis? October 28, 2020

• As society debates law enforcement reform, far better data is necessary to provide a roadmap for future changes.

The Draining of State Rainy Day Funds, October 14, 2020

• At least ten 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.

Why We Need to Pay Attention to Police Officers' Mental Health, October 9, 2020

• A new study found that as police are under more scrutiny than ever, their mental health struggles remain profound.

Shrinking State and Local Government Office Space, September 9, 2020

• With state and local officials searching for ways to cut budgets, many are looking to reduce how much real estate they occupy.

What Happens Next With Affordable Housing? August 20, 2020

• States and local governments already haven't been investing enough to help build housing that poor families, and even middle class families, can afford. And now funding could be yet another victim of the coronavirus.

The Escalating Crisis in Police Hiring, August 6, 2020

• As revenues drop and passionate debates over police mission, budget and purpose continue, cities still face the arduous task of recruiting top-notch candidates.

The Poor Performance of Performance Contracts, July 21, 2020

• 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. 

Can Civilian Oversight Change Police Behavior, July 9, 2020

• Cities across the country are looking at creating police oversight bodies. That makes questions about their efficacy and value more important than ever.

Kansas City Employees: 'Please Don't Rush To Reopen . . .', June 17, 2020

• What are public sector employee concerns about the return to work? Kansas City has a better idea than many other local governments based on multiple employee surveys.

Pandemic Aid: What Can We Learn From the 2009 Stimulus, June 10, 2020

• Fiscal stability will be more attainable by paying attention to experts who helped the country out of the Great Recession.

The Hidden Crisis: Caring for Vulnerable Adults at Home During the Coronavirus, May 15, 2020

• Faced with fears of contagion and shortages of personal protective equipment, home and community care workers and providers struggle to serve a vulnerable population.

'There's Never Been Anything Like This': Managing the State Employee Workforce, April 20, 2020

• An interview about the challenges faced by human resource directors.

The Coronavirus Cyber Safety Challenge: 'New Opportunities for the Bad Guys', April 16, 2020

• State and local governments confront multiple technology security issues as they deal with proliferating attacks and a disease-transformed work environment.

Lessons From States that Embraced Telework Before the Coronavirus, April 1, 2020

• How to avoid certain pitfalls now that many -- or most -- employees must now work from home.

How Ghosting Afflicts Public Sector Recruitment, March 15, 2020

• Too often that perfect candidate just disappears.

The Human Cost of Missing Data in Prisons, February 26, 2020

• Nowhere is good information about operations more critical than in prisons and jails. But too often states simply lack the kind of data that holds officials accountable.

Do Older Taxpayers Balk at Supporting Schools? February 12, 2020

• In certain places opponents to new school taxes are finding success in courting older voters.

Whistleblowing Isn't Just a Federal Issue, January 28, 2020

• An interview about the first comprehensive study of state whistleblower laws and how they protect -- or don't protect -- people who report wrongdoing.

How Governments are Recruiting Young Workers, January 14, 2020

• From initiatives that allow new parents to bring babies to work to upgraded facilities, state and local governments are aiming to compete with the private sector.

What Stands Between Young People and Local Government Jobs?, December 23, 2019

• Many millennials or members of Generation Z are interested in meaningful work that can help improve people's lives, but they don't necessarily see government jobs in that light.

Too Many Drugs, Too Little Data, December 9, 2019

• How the fight against drug abuse has both been hampered and helped by data collection and analysis.

The Troubling Decline in City Revenue Growth, November 24, 2019

• The economy continues to grow, yet cities anticipate revenue problems. How can both be true?

The New First Responder Crisis: Not Enough Dispatchers, November 12, 2019

• What can governments do to recruit and keep the "first" first responders?

When the Savings Don't Materialize, October 22, 2019

• Sometimes, state and local governments don't end up seeing the savings they've hoped for. Then what happens?