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Addressing Misperceptions About XBRL for Municipal Disclosure
In the wake of an SEC Municipal Disclosure conference, market leaders should take a fact based approach to machine-readable municipal finance data.
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Examining CDC’s State-by-State Data on Drug and Opioid Overdose Deaths
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there were 70,237 total drug overdose deaths and 47,600 opioid overdose deaths in 2017.
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California Voters Approve Tax Increases for Public Services, But Pension Payments and Debt May Eat the Money
Local governments say increased taxes are a path for increased public services, but the money is going to have to go to pension payments.
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California’s Plan to Ban Vaping Flavors would Hurt Public Health
California legislators are proposing a bill to ban the sale of all flavored e-cigarettes in retail stores and vending machines.
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Local Governments Beware: Pension Obligation Bonds Are a Risky Response to Rising CalPERS Bills
Recent stock market volatility is a warning sign to local agencies considering pension obligation bonds.
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Examining What Went Wrong With the Student-Based Budgeting Pilot Program
Overly rigid implementation played a part in setting back the Every Student Succeeds Act's student-based budgeting pilot program.
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Teacher Pension Debt Undermines Public Education in Georgia
Georgia’s political leaders owe it to parents and students to resolve the pension system’s solvency challenges.
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Cars, Mass Transit and the Efforts to Reduce Emissions
Investments in mass transit ought to be more selective and focused on expanding and maintaining ridership in areas with high rates of transit ridership by operating more heavily during times of greater demand.
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Jitneys Could Help Provide a Critical Mass Transit Options in Miami
The city has a successful low-cost private jitney industry frequented by immigrants and minorities that could help increase transit ridership rates at a minimal cost to taxpayers.
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The Iowa Public Employees Retirement System Needs More Than a Year of Solid Returns
IPERS’ unfunded accrued liability grew from $441 million in fiscal year 2001 to $6.97 billion in fiscal year 2017.
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New Research Examines Why Public Pension Funding Gaps Are Widening
The financial gap between poorly- and well-funded public pension plans is growing.
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Will Drug Cartels Miss Jeff Sessions?
The last thing cartels want is less drug enforcement.
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How to Make Legal Pot Work for Michigan
Michigan voters took a great step toward ending the failed war on drugs.
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Stop Trying to Claim Charter Schools ‘Steal’ Money from Traditional Public Schools
Charters shouldn’t be blamed for “stealing” public schools’ funding when parents are just choosing what’s best for their kids.
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Ballot Measure That Would Have Expanded Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Program Defeated
Proposition 305 would have extended eligibility for the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Program to all K-12 students in the state over the next four years.
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Privatization Doesn’t Orphan Public Pension Systems
Members leaving a pension plan add nothing to a plan’s unfunded liabilities since no additional pension “liability” can accrue for work not undertaken.
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Public-Private Resources Address Big Homelessness Problem With Tiny Solution
State and local governments are using tiny homes to serve low income and homeless populations.
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Estimated Values Of Selected U.S. State and Local Infrastructure Assets
There are numerous opportunities for asset recycling by U.S. cities, counties and states.