Imagine if dealing with your city government felt as smooth as ordering food from your favorite app. Sounds like wishful thinking, right? But what if I told you that in cities around the world, artificial intelligence is already making that happen? From faster service requests to instant information, AI is quietly transforming how we connect… Read More »

Do you remember what we went through in local government five years ago when the COVID-19 pandemic changed our lives in unprecedented proportions?  How could we forget, this was a stressful time, but the ARPA funding helped our budgets tremendously, helping to offset the loss of sales taxes, hotel taxes, and other local tax revenues.… Read More »

Let me ask you something—when was the last time you felt genuinely excited to participate in something civic, like a City Council meeting? If your answer is “It’s been a while,” you’re not alone. Shockingly, only 48% of young adults say they plan to vote in the 2024 general election. Even more troubling? A third… Read More »

Have you ever wondered how much your local government really spends on paper? It might surprise you — the U.S. federal government alone burns through $440 million a year just on printing! And here’s the kicker: about a third of those printed forms never even get used. Imagine millions of taxpayer dollars — your dollars… Read More »

Let’s get real for a second, have you ever stopped to think about how much false information is floating around your neighborhood right now? It’s not just random gossip. It’s a real threat to the decisions you, your family, and your neighbors make every single day. Yes, misinformation is sneaky and spreads fast, but your… Read More »

Let’s be real, trust doesn’t magically appear just because we wish for it. But when it’s there? Everything changes. Teams in high-trust workplaces feel 74% less stress, bring 106% more energy to the job, and get 50% more done — all while feeling 76% more engaged than their peers in low-trust environments. If you’re a… Read More »

Let’s start with a reality check: did you know nearly half of Americans say they don’t trust government? That’s right — about 45% of people feel uncertain about the very institutions designed to serve them. But here’s the good news: trust isn’t lost forever. For more than 35 years, John Herrera, CPA and President of… Read More »

What makes a park great in your eyes? Is it the open green space, the sound of kids playing, or the quiet benches shaded by old trees? Now think about your own community—how many parks do people actually use? Walk through a typical public space and you might find empty fields, lonely benches, and facilities… Read More »

This MuniTemps article on breaking down silos in organizations is as relevant to local government as it is to private businesses.  I have heard many a City Manager complain about the “silos” that exist in their organization.  It is a troubling truth reveals that 42% of organizations struggle with poor communication that affects cross-functional cooperation,… Read More »

Here’s a stark reality facing the US public sector: the country now has more people over 65 than under 15, with baby boomers comprising over a quarter of the population. The numbers get even more dramatic when you look at government specifically – over 47,000 federal civil servants can retire within the next five years. Most… Read More »