Finance
Managing public finance has become a demanding aspect of state and local government, especially as economic health fluctuates and outside forces create revenue instability. Articles on taxes, budgets, pensions and bonds help to bring insight to finance management at the state and local level.
The new law also comes with extra consumer protections.
Federal import duties may squeeze state budgets over time, particularly in manufacturing and trade-heavy jurisdictions, a new Pew analysis found.
The new Dallas-based exchange plans to lure companies frustrated by NYSE and Nasdaq rules when trading begins in 2026.
State and local retirement systems should collaborate to develop an AI-powered digital assistant to help government employees make better financial decisions throughout their careers. Hand-me-downs from the private sector won't cut it.
Analysts report $11 billion in spending even as the state serves 31,000 fewer residents and patients struggle with long waits and access hurdles.
Colorado’s revenue dropped by $1.2 billion due to tax code changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Lawmakers altered some tax credits but left spending cuts up to Gov. Jared Polis.
Inflation, tight property tax caps and cooling sales tax revenue are forcing municipalities to cut contracts, raise fees and reduce services.
With nearly $7 billion in K-12 support delayed, districts are bracing for cuts to staff, programs and student services.
Updates enacted by Congress will make this successful program for low-income communities even more attractive to investors, particularly for housing. But there are plenty of ways to take advantage of the current program.
Blame Ozempic. And maybe tariffs.
Chicago is $1.15 billion short. A report commissioned by Mayor Brandon Johnson looks unlikely to solve that problem.
California’s high housing costs and Louisiana’s entrenched hardships continue to leave millions struggling.
Innovators, investors and practitioners are on the hunt for fruitful applications of blockchain and other evolving financial technology. Undoubtedly some of their ambitions will involve government finance. Which ones might actually pan out?
Sex abuse settlements, dwindling tourism dollars and downtown decline have created budget problems city leaders say will take years to repair.
No matter where they end up, import taxes aren’t likely to drive inflation enough to have much effect on state or local tax revenues. Public financiers have more to think about amid federal aid cutbacks, AI's impact on employment and rate-cutting by the Fed.
The exemption applies to profits from stocks, real estate and crypto at an estimated $625 million cost to state revenue.
Travel and visitor spending fell sharply in early 2025, resulting in a $14.4 million loss. Polling points to U.S. policy and rhetoric deterring travel.
Colorado’s “rolling conformity” with the federal tax code, coupled with sweeping tax breaks enacted by Congress, triggered a sudden revenue loss.
Are vehicles like private equity, crypto and real estate a good fit for 401(k)-style public retirement plans — or too risky for savers? Marketers will soon be pitching these “alternative investments” to public employers. Prudence dictates caution.
Providers report denial rates up to 17.5 percent. To cope with the mounting financial pressure, some small clinics have stopped accepting Medicaid altogether.
The new tax and spending law’s requirements for food assistance and Medicaid impose costly administrative burdens on states and localities. Widely misunderstood rules for taxing overtime will intensify the administrative pain. Public employers should start preparing their workers for the confusion to come.
With little public detail about its methods or goals, the governor’s new investigative unit raises questions about transparency, political intent and the future of local oversight.
Pension funds enjoyed enormous stock market returns during the pandemic but slower gains and underfunding has increased their liabilities.
A decade of noncompliance with federal rules has left districts scrambling to meet student mental health needs without adequate support.
The future of an EPA program for disadvantaged communities may be uncertain, but there are lessons for the future in how local governments have gone after the funds. Authentic, cross-sector collaborations are key.
So far, 20 states have created retirement programs for private-sector workers.
Higher federal income tax offsets for state and local tax payments have morphed into a mostly upper-middle-class political perk, one unlikely to have any meaningful impact on state or local fiscal policies or politics. It’s time to look ahead to the next iteration of federal tax policy.
Despite widespread damage from a 2023 storm, only eight homeowners have cash in hand, with federal roadblocks delaying relief.
But tariffs and deportations threaten economic damage in the Southeast United States.
Even where abundantly available, the costs of clean water are rising faster than the CPI. Where it’s scarce, there’s double trouble. Ultimately, securing enough clean and affordable water will require state laws mandating realistic long-term pricing.
Hospitals stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars under the new tax and spending law, with rural facilities at particular risk. Some states are likely to reconvene their legislatures to deal with funding shortfalls.
