All Land Use & Zoning Cities Are Dropping Parking Minimums. Here’s What Actually Changes on a Building Permit September 13, 2026 Adriana Ruiz
All Public Finance The Debt That Doesn’t Call Itself Debt: How Cities Borrow Without a Vote September 10, 2026 Thomas Brennan
All Local Government The Fee Nobody Notices: How Stormwater Utility Charges Are Reshaping City Budgets September 6, 2026 Margaret Hale
All State & Federal Policy The Bond Behind the License: What California’s Dealer Bonding Rule Actually Protects September 2, 2026 Margaret Hale
All Local Government The Government You’ve Never Heard Of: Inside America’s Special Districts September 1, 2026 Kenji Watanabe
All Land Use & Zoning Cities Are Dropping Parking Minimums. Here’s What Actually Changes on a Building Permit September 13, 2026 Adriana Ruiz
All Public Finance The Debt That Doesn’t Call Itself Debt: How Cities Borrow Without a Vote September 10, 2026 Thomas Brennan
Local Government How Florida’s Evolving Building Codes Are Changing the Roof Over Your Head April 16, 2026 Thomas Brennan In Florida, the roof over a home is no longer just a matter of shelter and curb appeal. It has become one of the clearest examples of how local government,…
Civic Engagement Ballot Measure Trends: What Voters Are Deciding That Legislators Won’t March 16, 2026 Thomas Brennan Across the United States, ballot measures have become an increasingly prominent mechanism for shaping public policy in areas where legislative bodies have struggled to reach consensus. From tax policy and…
State & Federal Policy Federal Grant Compliance Is Getting More Complex for Small Municipalities February 24, 2026 Thomas Brennan Small municipalities across the country are facing a growing administrative burden as federal grant compliance requirements become increasingly complex. What was once a relatively straightforward process of applying for and…
Local Government How Cities Are Using Performance Audits to Cut Waste February 15, 2026 Kenji Watanabe Cities across the country are increasingly turning to performance audits as a structured method for identifying inefficiencies and reducing public sector waste. Once used sporadically and often in response to…
Land Use & Zoning Inclusionary Zoning Mandates and the Developer Response January 28, 2026 Adriana Ruiz Inclusionary zoning mandates have become one of the most closely watched tools in local housing policy, reshaping how cities attempt to balance development growth with affordability goals. As more jurisdictions…
Local Government The Growing Role of County Government in Climate Adaptation January 12, 2026 Margaret Hale County governments are becoming increasingly central actors in climate adaptation planning, filling a governance gap between municipal action and state-level policy. As climate-related risks intensify, counties are being asked to…
State & Federal Policy State Legislatures Take on Data Privacy Where Federal Law Hasn’t December 28, 2025 Thomas Brennan As federal efforts to establish a comprehensive national data privacy framework remain stalled, state legislatures are increasingly stepping into the regulatory vacuum. Over the past several years, states have accelerated…
Public Finance Public Pension Funding Levels Improve but Long-Term Risks Remain December 17, 2025 Kenji Watanabe Public pension systems across the United States are showing signs of gradual financial improvement after more than a decade of strain and volatility. Strong equity market performance in recent years…
Civic Engagement How Ranked Choice Voting Changed Election Dynamics in Early Adopter Cities November 26, 2025 Margaret Hale Ranked choice voting has moved from a relatively niche electoral reform to a defining feature of local election systems in several early adopter cities. As jurisdictions experiment with replacing traditional…
Public Finance Municipal Budget Gaps Widen as Federal Pandemic Aid Expires November 12, 2025 Kenji Watanabe Municipal governments across the United States are entering a period of renewed fiscal strain as the last major tranches of federal pandemic aid phase out. The expiration of these funds…
