The risk of fraud is high in the nation’s largest housing program, report finds
The federal department that disperses funds to states to build affordable housing is failing to provide necessary oversight, an audit found, increasing “the opportunities for mismanagement and fraudulent activity.”
What happens when high-earners leave cities, taking their spending power with them?
Urban-to-rural migration can shrink a municipality’s tax base, reduce property values and slow new business development, a new report says. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
Feds open new round in $500M grant program for transportation tech
The second year of SMART grants will award another $100 million to state, local and tribal governments for safe, equitable and sustainable transportation solutions.
Unless states act soon, the ‘AI rich’ will ‘only get richer’
The industry is currently concentrated in only a handful of places in the U.S. States can change that.
Food assistance for new moms and toddlers projected to fall short
The number of low-income women signing up for the federal Women, Infants and Children program is sharply increasing. But funding levels don't look likely to change.
Emergency rental assistance programs do more than provide cash assistance
Beyond covering rent, the federal funding laid the groundwork for improved partnerships with courts and data integration that will help communities continue providing support.
After enacting strict abortion laws, many states are turning to tax breaks for expectant parents
Four states have approved new tax credits or deductions that allow taxpayers to claim unborn children. Nearly a dozen are expected to follow. But do these laws actually help expectant mothers?
HUD offers $85M to communities actively eliminating housing barriers
Through the competitive grant program, state and local governments can address some of the obstacles to expanding affordable housing.
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?
State child tax credits can reduce poverty, but only if families apply
Since the federal child tax credit expired at the end of 2021, 11 states have enacted their own fully refundable versions. But for them to be as successful as the federal credit, states have to get the word out.
Infrastructure remains a top priority for cities
According to an analysis of State of City addresses, mayors’ top focus for the third straight year are the nation’s road, bridges and water systems. Finances and public safety followed closely behind.
The nation’s biggest public union wants to help fix the workforce shortage
The group has launched a listening tour and has already received feedback from state and local workers on what governments can do to attract and retain employees.
State retirement plans close savings gap and pad bottom lines
Six years ago and millions of dollars since, Oregon launched the first state-sponsored retirement program for private sector workers. Today, 19 states have launched or plan to launch their own savings programs.
Post-pandemic, SNAP benefits aren’t high enough to buy food
A new study finds that people in three-quarters of the nation’s counties don’t receive enough food assistance to pay for their groceries.
Wisconsin’s ‘Star Trek’ veto and other budget stragglers
With the new fiscal year underway, some states are just now wrapping up their budgets—and it hasn’t been without drama. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup
Boosting affordable housing by reclaiming investor-owned properties
As the affordable housing supply gets squeezed, some worry that private equity firms will scoop up more properties.
CDC to reduce funding for states’ child vaccination programs
Citing the recent debt ceiling deal, the CDC is trimming its funding to child vaccination programs that focus on communities vulnerable to disease outbreaks. The cuts come despite data showing the percentage of children getting vaccinated has dropped in recent years.
Building infrastructure using inclusive planning
COMMENTARY | As billions of dollars flow to state and local governments under the infrastructure bill, public officials are responsible for using it to create a fairer economy.
New fiscal year, new taxes
A slate of tax policy changes are set to take effect across 18 states. And just as the first day of July brings tax changes, the last day of June marks the end of another U.S. Supreme Court term. Here are the rulings that impacted states. Plus, more news to use in this week's State and Local Roundup.
Despite the controversy, cities are still turning to rent control to address the housing crisis
Many cities have adopted rent control measures in the past year to help with the high cost of housing. But the approach has had less success in statehouses, where opponents argue it’s ineffective.
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