23M low-income households appear set to lose internet subsides
Congressional leaders did not include funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program in its final six spending bills.
States look to AI for its potential to help with finances
Artificial intelligence holds promise for creating budget-saving efficiencies, aiding in audits and helping with compliance. But the emerging technology also poses challenges that could affect spending.
Local news is crucial to governance, and it’s hurting
COMMENTARY | Public officials need to support it any way they can. It’s good for their communities, and it's good for them.
Shapiro pitches carbon cap-and-invest plan to capitalize on Pennsylvania’s energy exports
The program could make could make the state a national clean energy leader, but critics claim it’s the same tax on electricity as the state’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Biden proposes 'historic new program' to address child care shortages
In his budget, the president is asking Congress for more money for child care and the restoration of several pandemic-era programs, including the full child care tax expansion.
Tips for weaving equity into opioid settlement spending
The Equity Expectation Policy framework offers state and local officials insights on how to allocate opioid settlement funds effectively and fairly across communities.
Senate approves six spending bills, averts partial government shutdown
Counties praised the package for addressing Medicaid access for the incarcerated. Now, congressional negotiators turn to the remaining six spending bills, which will determine the future of internet subsidies and other significant programs.
Can student debt relief attract workers to state and local government jobs?
More than 46% of state and local employees reported being “extremely or very worried” about paying back their student loans. A new report suggests addressing that concern could entice more people into the public sector.
House passes spending bills in bipartisan vote
The package of bills provides additional funding for WIC and rental assistance, but drastically cuts funds funds for the largest state and local housing grant program and transit.
The brave new world of local government debt management
COMMENTARY | Market volatility, economic uncertainty and factors like climate change are driving heightened risk, creating a tougher issuing environment and a more complex landscape.
WIC, rental assistance get funding boost in newly unveiled spending bills
But the bipartisan proposals for six bills would cut funding to housing and transit programs.
States move to cut grocery taxes
Amid rising food prices, more states are reducing or eliminating a sales tax that impacts lower-income households the most.
Lawmakers across the U.S. seek to curb utility spending on politics, ads and more extras
At least a dozen states have considered bills to limit how gas, water and electric utilities can spend customers’ money.
Biden administration announces new efforts to boost the nation’s housing supply
Federal officials will extend a program that has helped develop or rehabilitate nearly 12,000 affordable rental homes.
White House beefs up child care block grants
A new rule caps the total amount low-income families have to pay for child care at 7% of their income and directs states to pay child care providers more fairly and on time.
Amid rising costs, states scramble to budget for natural disasters
The U.S. set a new record for billion-dollar climate disasters in 2023. State budgets are increasingly shouldering the costs of more frequent and expensive weather events.
Ending health care’s affordability crisis begins with actions to fix state markets
COMMENTARY | Because states can more easily engage with local employers, health care providers and payers, they are addressing the challenge by analyzing spending, overseeing mergers and reducing the costs of medication.
As millions wait on food stamp approvals, feds tell states to speed it up
To adequately staff safety net programs, some states are boosting workforce funding, and others are investing in new computer systems to speed up claims processing. But food security advocates say recent backlogs are a symptom of long-term disinvestment.
Municipalities taxing stay-at-home workers during pandemic was OK, court says
The Ohio Supreme Court upheld a temporary state law that allowed employers to withhold municipal income tax irrespective of where their employees performed their work. The ruling sets a precedent in the state.
States turn up the heat on ESG investing
At issue is whether mandates about environmental, social and governance investment strategies infringe upon a state fiduciary’s duty to maximize returns.
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