Ever wanted to play on Jeopardy? Whether you have or haven’t, I’m sure you would love to to impress your friends and family with some newly acquired knowledge about state and local governments. In this week’s State and Local Spotlight we have some state and local fast facts for you. Question: Where does the oneRead… Read more »
Remember the old saying: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it?” It is our usual go-to answer when processes and programs are, at the bare minimum, functioning. However, within the next year we will have a new president and a new administration. With that comes new leadership across the federal government and ultimately leads toRead… Read more »
Each state has its own agenda, priorities, initiatives, and challenges, but what all states can agree on is the need for innovation. But it’s not easy as budgets and resources continue to shrink and employees find the need to adapt to new technologies. Even thinking about innovation can be an uphill battle for state andRead… Read more »
Why does the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) poll government employees every year about the best places to work in the federal government? Is it a recruitment tool for those considering public service? To gauge employee satisfaction? Just for fun? Maybe. However, the Partnership for Public Service (PPS), wants the survey to be a sourceRead… Read more »
In New York City, unlike in many other localities, students get to pick where they go to high school. That selection process usually takes place in the sixth or seventh grade, so that students have ample time to meet qualifications and complete a lengthy application process. Formerly, that process was based on one compendium ofRead… Read more »
Be honest, have you ever looked at your state budget? Probably not. And if you do, the complicated figures and numbers probably intimidated you. But there is hope. One of the co-authors of a recent report for the Volcker Alliance, titled Beyond the Basics: Best Practices in State Budget Transparency, Richard Greene, Special Projects AdvisorRead… Read more »
Have you ever heard of a customer comment card-in government? Neither have I, but there is a way to thank your fellow federal govies for their great work. The Partnership for Public Service has once again opened their nominations for the annual Service to America Medals (also known as the Sammies), but hurry because theRead… Read more »
This interviewee was featured in our recent guide, Understanding State and Local Government. To read the guide, click here. We’ve all heard about the aging workforce. The state of Pennsylvania is no exception to the statistics that tell us that well over a third of their workforce will be eligible to retire over the nextRead… Read more »
Both interviewees were featured in our recent guide, Understanding State and Local Government. To read the guide, click here. It’s often true that throwing money at a problem won’t solve it, but sometimes it does help. At least, when you have a multiyear (expensive) strategy that you need to effectively implement. That was the case for theRead… Read more »
In a world filled with technology, we assume transparency is a given. We desire the ‘need to know’ and we believe it is our right to know. To top it all of, we hold our government to a higher standard. The concept of checks and balances fosters a sense of mutual accountability from citizens andRead… Read more »