Finance

How Rethinking Land Use Can Boost Local Government Revenue (May 23, 2022)
Governments looking to make revenue streams more dependable should consider revisiting land-use regulations, incentives and taking other steps, says a recent report. More from Route Fifty

How Cities are Tapping Federal Aid to Make Major Tech Upgrades (April 26, 2022)
Some of the spending is geared towards adding online access to services like building permits and dog licenses. Other investments focus on areas like remote meetings and cybersecurity. More from Route Fifty

5 Ways Cities Led in Pandemic Recovery (March 28, 2022)
Cities hit the ground running, implementing a host of innovative policies and practices designed to flatten the curve, maintain core government services, protect small businesses and much more. More from National League of Cities

Telework is here to stay, but what does that mean for wage tax revenue? (March 21, 2022)
Commuter-driven revenue, such as sales tax on morning coffee, parking fees and tax on wages earned inside municipal limits, is a budgetary staple for many cities. When the pandemic set in, many communities were forced to slash budgets and adapt. More from American City & County

Small cities seek to compete for historic infrastructure funds (March 4, 2022)
Under new White House guidance, smaller communities, like Mount Vernon, Washington, may have an easier time applying for grant funding. More from Smart Cities Dive

Report: County Frameworks for Recovery Fund Investments (March 2, 2022)
Developed by NACo and Brookings Metro, this report examines strategies for investing funds with an eye towards equity. More from NACo

Five Innovative Budgeting Practices to Strengthen Your Community (February 23, 2022)
Local governments all over the world are taking an innovative approach to curating budgeting strategies that fit their communities, and we have gathered five standout practices that add an innovative touch to the budgeting process. More from ICMA Blog

10 Ways Local Governments are Using Census Data (January 25, 2022)
The decennial census and other Census Bureau surveys provide critical information needed to make informed decisions and policies. More from National League of Cities

A Look at How 150 Governments are Planning to Use ARPA Funds (December 20, 2021)
A new online dashboard offers insights into what cities and counties intend to do with the federal pandemic aid. More from Route Fifty

Massive Budget Bill Would Open Even More State and Local Funding (December 10, 2021)
​In a year that's already seen a major infrastructure package signed into law and billions in pandemic aid, domestic spending legislation the U.S. House approved last week promises to direct additional federal cash towards state and local priorities. More from Route Fifty

Inflation Has Risen Around the World, but the U.S. Has Seen One of the Biggest Increases (December 7, 2021)
The annual rate of inflation in the United States hit 6.2% in October 2021, the highest in more than three decades. Understanding why the rate of inflation has risen so quickly could help clarify how long the surge might last – and what, if anything, policymakers should do about it. More from Pew Research Center

For City Leaders, an Upbeat Moment Mixed With Challenges Old and New (November 30, 2021)
Historic amounts of federal funding are flowing to the local level. But cities are also grappling with a host of difficult problems. More from Route Fifty

7 Ways the New Infrastructure Package Invests in Planning (November 23, 2021)
More than just a highway bill, the legislation is injecting billions of federal dollars into environmental justice, climate action, and local planning efforts. Here's how it all shakes out. More from American Planning Association

2020 Census: Big cities grew and became more diverse, especially among their youth (November 15, 2021)
The 2020 Census shows that, when looking at the 2010-2020 decade, many major cities grew faster than the previous decade and most registered increased racial diversity. More from Brookings

U.S. household growth over last decade was the lowest ever recorded (November 2, 2021)
​Growth in the number of U.S. households during the 2010s slowed to its lowest pace in history, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of newly released 2020 census data. More from Pew Research Center

A Free Tool to Help Cities Take Full Advantage of Federal Aid (September 29, 2021)
The collaboration between Bloomberg Philanthropies and the U.S. Conference of Mayors lets city leaders search information and ask questions about rules and regulations related to coronavirus relief money. More from Route Fifty

Why and How Local Governments Across the Country Are Reforming Fines and Fees (September 22, 2021)
The status quo is often inequitable and inefficient. The change process begins with data analysis and careful engagement of both local government stakeholders and impacted residents. More from ICMA Blog

How should cities spend billions in aid? Ask people who live there (September 8, 2021)
Some state and local governments are turning to Zoom and Survey Monkey polls to ask residents how to use their federal Covid relief aid More from Bloomberg CityLab

The Many Flavors of 'Transformative' State and Local ARPA Spending (August 17, 2021)
Transformative government projects using American Rescue Plan Act funds can run the gamut from improving a local park, to spending tens of millions to alleviate homelessness More from Route Fifty

How to Manage Federal Funds to Ensure Sustainability (August 10, 2021)
Here’s what state and local government leaders can do to effectively use the American Rescue Plan Act funding and show voters long-lasting results. More from Route Fifty

How One State Plans to Use Federal Relief Money to Shore Up Child Care Options (August 2, 2021)
Montana will leverage more than $31 million to establish grants for child care centers to increase pay, expand capacity and offset tuition rates. More from Route Fifty

A 5-Step Guide to Spending the American Rescue Plan Money (July 26, 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. More from Route Fifty