Management and Administration
These articles are about the nuts and bolts of government administration, from IT governance, including security and privacy policies, to management best practices affecting procurement, workforce development and retention.
Oklahoma puts its tobacco settlement funds in a trust, spending only the interest. The strategy has had long-term public health benefits.
An investigation has revealed that many of these deaths — whether the result of withdrawal, chronic medical conditions or mental health complications — could have been prevented.
It could signal major changes in compliance, grants and oversight for state and local governments. That’s happened in the past.
Unlike federal DOGE, the Montgomery County office doesn’t envision layoffs becoming part of its mission.
It’s tempting for governments to shortchange spending on things like training, infrastructure maintenance and disaster preparation. But not spending the money can cost a lot more in the long run.
Firefighters are adopting new equipment and approaches to better protect against toxic smoke and soot.
A new statute ensures the AI-focused office will outlast the current governor and gives it new authority to fund and share technology projects.
The Trump administration is holding federal grants hostage to its priorities.
The scandals that ended the Minnesota governor’s bid for a third term reflect the kind of oversight failure that comes with one-party control of government. Above all, voters expect competent administration.
Rather than acting as substitute police, guard medics could help save lives by backing up strained local emergency responders. It’s not unprecedented.
States’ efforts to streamline government operations may sound like the federal model once led by Elon Musk, but when it comes to genuine government efficiency they’re getting a lot more done.
As cities come back from the pandemic, a few elite performers are leading the way.
Despite being the nation’s largest full-time legislature, divided government and a budget impasse have sharply limited output.
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Self-service kiosks are helping law enforcement agencies deliver faster, clearer service by digitizing high-impact workflows and reducing front-desk demands.
With federal support diminishing, local governments are on the forefront. They have plenty of effective approaches to draw on to direct resources toward proven ideas — and away from ineffective ones.
New AI tools and proven best practices can enhance the work of government purchasing teams. It’s time to transform the process.
Success in the coming years will require sustainability, adaptation and perseverance, especially as AI both enhances and disrupts government. Professional leaders need to look beyond the short term, facilitate change where needed, and reinvent themselves.
Private-sector entrepreneurs know how important it is to prototype, even at the risk of failure. For local governments, testing, learning and adapting is a path toward reimagining core municipal services.
The law was designed to rein in pharmacy benefit managers and stabilize local pharmacies, but officials say limited oversight and slow implementation have blunted its impact.
The federal government ended funding for an organization that gave election officials free help managing physical and cyber threats against election workers and operations.
Florida, meanwhile, gains one every two minutes. New data shows how population shifts are reshaping budgets and tax bases nationwide.
It’s easier than ever to send out a survey instrument, and they’re an important tool for governments. But with so many of them out there, it’s harder than ever to reach a critical mass of respondents.
It’s about governance and whether these systems can avoid reinforcing existing inequities. States, local governments and agencies need to move to embed fairness, transparency and accountability into every stage of AI use.
New work rules and other reforms could help break the cycle of dependency. But to implement them, states need to move beyond a patchwork of programs that don’t talk to each other. Federal policymakers could help.
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City managers juggle hundreds of meetings and decisions every month — but poor documentation can derail progress and erode trust. AI-powered tools now offer a practical way to preserve institutional memory, improve follow-through and strengthen accountability.
It’s more important than ever to celebrate those who improve the mechanisms of government. And we need to give them the kind of learning opportunities to enable them to have even more of an impact.
School districts have made some headway in addressing the national shortage of school bus drivers, but there still aren’t as many drivers as there were in 2019, according to a new study.
City officials won state approval to sell $125 million in short-term bonds to cover payroll for nearly 5,000 workers through the end of the year.
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Public agencies can strengthen trust and performance by breaking down silos, embracing data transparency and connecting strategy to service delivery. These five management practices help leaders turn accountability into community confidence.
The most obvious example right now is with artificial intelligence, but there are plenty of other challenges.
People outside of government aren’t the only ones who could benefit from a better understanding of election processes.
