Taxes
Covering topics such as bonds, cryptocurrency, federal aid and pensions.
After accruing more than $2 million in debt, the Galveston County city approved a tax increase, prompting the AG’s office to demand a repeal.
Federal funding is a bigger share of state budgets than ever. It comes with too many strings and strictures that choke off efficiency and innovation, and it threatens democratic self-governance.
Taxpayers must be protected from unchecked growth in local government spending. Statewide limits on tax increases would do that while forcing local governments to live within their means.
Not much for now, with next year’s insurance premiums jumping far more than general inflation and tax revenues. Employers’ only hope to begin stemming these costs long term is a stronger, unified front at the state and national levels. There also could be an important role for public pensions.
States and localities rely on the regularity and reliability of federal data. Disrupting it undermines everything from pensions to budgets and threatens public trust in government.
While understandably feeling under the gun, there are many ways states can continue to grow both their economies and revenues.
Congress and the states run on different fiscal calendars. Blame Nixon.
State humanities councils connect Americans with their past and each other. That work is under threat due to federal cuts.
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.
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.
The administration has eliminated funding for many local projects it deems "hostile" to motor vehicles.
Inflation, tight property tax caps and cooling sales tax revenue are forcing municipalities to cut contracts, raise fees and reduce services.
Congress has substantially increased support for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. That should help finance thousands more units.
A new report from the Government Accountability Office details the ways that recent changes have diminished FEMA capacity. Local officials responsible for response and recovery want to be part of the conversation about what comes next.
States are spending a lot of their federal TANF money on things that don’t help families that need it the most, and work reporting requirements keep too many families from accessing benefits.
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.
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