2024

article thumbnail

Individualism Is Making Public Transit Worse

Next City

For buses and trains to work well, they must meet the needs of many different people at the same time.

352
352
article thumbnail

Federal Government Will Require Purchase of ‘Made in America’ Drones

Disaster Zone blog

A long time coming.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Federal Government Made $236 billion “Improper Payments” Last Fiscal Year

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

The federal government reported an estimated $236 billion in “improper payments” during the most recently completed fiscal year (FY 2023). Such payments are essentially payment errors that can be the result of many things—include overpayments.

article thumbnail

Social Housing Isn’t Just a Vienna Thing. It’s Core to New York’s Past – and Could Be Its Future.

Next City

The policy wonk who helped pen the state housing authority bill says it's time to revive New York’s history of social housing.

Housing 344
article thumbnail

How Gilbert, AZ Prepares for the Future While Protecting What Makes It Great

A top-rated place to live, Gilbert, AZ struggled with outdated short-term rental management—low compliance, lost revenue, and growing administrative strain. By adopting the GovOS Tax & Compliance suite, the Town: Increased compliance from 40% to 90% Generated over $85K in new revenue Has a single digital system to manage tasks more efficiently With a centralized hub for short-term rental registration and enforcement, Gilbert balances tourism and community needs.

article thumbnail

New Federal Legislation to Provide Federally Backed Reinsurance

Disaster Zone blog

One way to help, but not solve, the price of property insurance.

article thumbnail

SCP 200: Bringing Entertainers to Camps: A Chat with Academic Entertainment

Summer Camp Programming

SHOW NOTES Chris and Curt welcome Whitney Mueller from Academic Entertainment, who shares her journey with the company from its humble beginnings to becoming a leading provider of entertainers for camps and schools. The episode covers the variety of programs offered, ensuring no camp ever has to endure the horror of a boring guest […] The post SCP 200: Bringing Entertainers to Camps: A Chat with Academic Entertainment first appeared on Summer Camp Programming.

264
264

More Trending

article thumbnail

Ransomware presents a growing threat to vulnerable local governments

American City & Country

In the past, cities and counties were not a prime target for ransomware attacks, says Rahul Mahna , a partner who leads the Outsourced IT Services team at Eisner Advisory Group LLC. The company is a licensed independent CPA firm providing tax and business consulting services to their clients, which includes governments. Mahna has more than 20 years of experience in cybersecurity and information technology.

article thumbnail

Does Political Decentralization Improve Urban Governance? Balancing Efficacy and Representation in Rajasthan’s Small Towns

The City Fix

“Hum faltu hai [in English, “We are useless”] …I don’t even know what the budget of the council is. Nobody tells me about the procurement process [or] the number of tenders that have gone public…I don’t have enough knowledge about.

Budgeting 143
article thumbnail

Enhancing Security with CISA’s ScubaGear Baselines for M365

Microsoft Public Sector

In today's digital age, securing an organization's information is more critical than ever. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) stood up a program called Secure Cloud Business Applications (SCuBA). The program was in response Solorigate in 2020, and the discovery of common cybersecurity gaps that negatively impacted organizations’ risk.

Security 136
article thumbnail

AWS announces Satellite Resiliency for AWS Outposts

AWS Public Sector Blog

Announced at AWS re:Invent 2024, Satellite Resiliency for AWS Outposts offers a comprehensive, Partner-managed solution for resilient cloud-connected edge computing that extends the reach of Amazon Web Services (AWS) to the most remote and geographically dispersed environments on earth. AWS Outposts typically run connected to a parent AWS Region for resource management, access control, and software updates.

article thumbnail

Municipal Maintenance Guide: Inspections

Get this municipal maintenance guide that provides municipalities with a detailed and structured approach to maintaining city infrastructure. This guide outlines systematic inspection procedures and best practices, ensuring the safety, longevity, and operational efficiency of municipal assets. From roadways and bridges to public buildings and utilities, the guide covers all aspects of municipal maintenance.

article thumbnail

Radio Communication’s Role in an Era of Climate Instability

State Tech Magazine

When Hurricane Helene took out power and cellular communication across western North Carolina, first responders were able to stay connected using the state’s VIPER system, a radio infrastructure that leverages Motorola’s ASTRO P25 radio systems. “That was a widespread power outage and cellphone network failure, and we kept the network operable,” says Katja Millard, vice president of critical communications at Motorola.

article thumbnail

Drivers of FinTech policy evolution: the role of policy learning and institutions

Policy & Politics Journal blog

by Ringa Raudla, Egert Juuse, Vytautas Kuokštis, Aleksandrs Cepilovs, Matti Ylönen Financial technologies (FinTech) used to be material for science fiction movies, but suddenly they are everywhere.

269
269
article thumbnail

Proof of Workforce Foundation and Careers In Government Inc. Launch Groundbreaking Partnership to Integrate Bitcoin into Public Sector Employment

Careers in Government

The partnership will focus on innovative strategies for attracting and retaining talent in the public sector. The post Proof of Workforce Foundation and Careers In Government Inc. Launch Groundbreaking Partnership to Integrate Bitcoin into Public Sector Employment appeared first on Careers in Government.

article thumbnail

Havana Syndrome—Americans Affected by Mysterious Symptoms May Struggle to Get Care

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

Severe headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, vertigo. About a decade ago, American officials and their families living and working at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, started experiencing mysterious symptoms like these. Symptoms usually.

361
361
article thumbnail

Empower Digital Government: Strategic Workbook for Modern Transformation

Digital transformation is reshaping government interactions, bringing agencies closer to the communities they serve. However, while many have adopted new digital tools, few have implemented comprehensive strategies to maximize their benefits. Our Strategic Workbook for Modern Government offers a step-by-step guide to developing a sustainable digital strategy.

article thumbnail

One Solution to Car-Dependency: Have Non-Drivers Plan Our Transportation Systems

Next City

One-third of Americans don’t have a driver’s license. Anna Zivarts says it’s time for transportation planners to include them in decision-making.

article thumbnail

The 2025 Modernization Playbook

GovLoop

5 Tech Trends to Watch According to Gartner, here are the top technology trends that government chief information officers should watch. Adaptive Security: Artificial intelligence will rapidly become a standard part of most threat detection and incident response plans, augmenting not replacing staff. Digital Identity Ecosystems: Government agencies could play a vital role in the development of systems for managing the use of digital identities across the public and private sectors.

article thumbnail

5 Ways Cloud Readiness Assessments Can Help Agencies

FedTech Magazine

Agencies preparing for a cloud migration would do well to run a cloud readiness assessment to set both their modernization strategy and security posture. The Department of Health and Human Services uses cloud assessment tools to ensure system configurations are appropriate and to identify weak security controls in need of remediation, Tamara Lilly, HHS’s assistant inspector general for cybersecurity, told Federal News Network.

Security 119
article thumbnail

When they search for new staffers, cities and counties should cast a wide net and recruit globally

American City & Country

State and local governments employed 20.5 million as of October 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Among those workers, there was an increase in the number who quit (about 22,000) in September, the BLS reported. Job openings in September 2024 in state and local governments in the U.S. totaled 703,000, says the BLS. So, if local governments need to hire qualified workers to replace those leaving, where can they turn to when recruiting?

article thumbnail

7 Signs Your Local Government ERP Is Holding You Back: A Guide for Small Municipalities

Local governments and municipalities serving populations under 200,000 face distinctive challenges in delivering efficient and effective services to their communities. To overcome these challenges, many rely on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems tailored to their specific needs. Not all ERP systems are created equal, and some may hinder progress rather than support it.

article thumbnail

A Look Back at the AI Innovations Transforming the Public Sector

Google Public Sector

2024 was a year of incredible innovation and progress, as we continue to invest in bringing the best of Google AI to our customers around the world. The public sector is adopting the latest AI technologies with the right guardrails built in, and we are seeing incredible energy around this technology in agencies across the country whether that be gathering and analyzing information at the most critical times to create operational resilience and readiness, protecting our nation's critical infrast

article thumbnail

Why Land Banks Matter

Center for Community Progress

For neighborhoods burdened by systemic disinvestment; vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties often become symbols of neglect. They pose social, economic, health, and environmental hazards to communities and residents. Addressing these properties requires intervention at multiple points and systems—and one powerful tool many communities use to address vacancy and promote equitable development is the land bank.

Housing 98
article thumbnail

Implementing a unified search platform for educational content on Amazon OpenSearch Service

AWS Public Sector Blog

This post discusses how Amazon Web Services (AWS) can help you set up a unified search platform for educational content using Amazon OpenSearch Service. Amazon OpenSearch Service is a managed service that makes it easy to deploy, operate, and scale OpenSearch clusters in the AWS Cloud. With digital learning becoming increasingly popular, managing a vast amount of educational data can be challenging.

Education 264
article thumbnail

5 Ways to Strengthen Water Infrastructure Security

State Tech Magazine

In early October, the largest utility in the U.S. was hit by a devastating cyberattack. The provider had to postpone all billing operations in the wake of unauthorized system access, and more than 14 million people were unable to pay for water during the weeklong billing shutdown. Communities in Kansas, Pennsylvania and Texas also experienced disruptions to water systems after cyberattacks within the past year.

Security 293
article thumbnail

ASPA TIMES Magazine: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

PA TIMES Magazine is a publication of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), a not-for-profit corporation. This edition focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in public administration, including guest columns, insights for the field and interviews with city government DEI officers about their work at the local level.

article thumbnail

Intended and unintended effects of cannabis regulation in Uruguay 

Policy & Politics Journal blog

by Rosario Queirolo, Lorena Repetto, Joaquín Alonso, Eliana Álvarez, Belén Sotto and Mafalda Pardal Based on a qualitative design, our article recently published in Policy & Politics analyses the intended and unintended effects of the regulation of cannabis in Uruguay over… Continue reading →

article thumbnail

Leadership and Perception

Careers in Government

How you perceive things, events, people, and interactions is an ongoing activity, second by second, minute by minute, day by day. The post Leadership and Perception appeared first on Careers in Government.

article thumbnail

A Warning About the Nation’s Fiscal Health

GAO (US Government Accountability Office)

The federal government is on an unsustainable long-term fiscal path that poses serious economic, national security, and social challenges if not addressed. And the longer we wait to act, the more dire the consequences will be on the economy and the.

Security 363
article thumbnail

Urban Farms Are a Lifeline For Food-Insecure Residents. Will New Jersey Finally Take Them Seriously?

Next City

No water. Pricey permits. Urban farms in Essex County, New Jersey are calling on local governments and the state to make long-term investments in combating food insecurity.

article thumbnail

2025 Business Owner Survey: Guide for Cities, Counties, and State Agencies

The 2025 Business Owner Survey delivers key insights for cities, counties, and state agencies working to enhance online services. Top insights: 97% of business owners say digital access to government services is essential. Licensing and tax processes remain outdated, slowing efficiency and increasing administrative burdens. Younger entrepreneurs expect fully online, self-service options, signaling a need for modernization.

article thumbnail

Strategies for Improving Inclusivity for Individuals with Disabilities in the Workplace

Homeroom

By: Robert D. Morissette, Special Assistant, Office of the Deputy Secretary October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. More than 70 million Americans report having a disability. Even though people with disabilities are part of every community, a 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics report showed only 22.5% of people who identify with having at least Continue Reading The post Strategies for Improving Inclusivity for Individuals with Disabilities in the Workplace appeared first on ED.go

115
115
article thumbnail

Document AI Saves Agencies Time and Money

FedTech Magazine

The federal government relies on forms and other documents. Many important forms sit on the web, while others sit in storage boxes. The wealth of information available to government agencies is often locked in these forms due to a lack of manpower to process and analyze them for correlations and relationships. Unlocking this data requires significant work due to the requirements for data entry, validation, and proper routing and categorization of the information.

article thumbnail

Lessons From State and Local Experts

GovLoop

Three state and local experts share lessons theyll carry forward into 2025. Collaboration Leads to More Knowledge State and local agencies rely heavily on federal Census Bureau data to gain insights into their communities. But those insights, in fact, emerge from a collaborative process, said Mallory Bateman, Director of Demographic Research at the Kem C.

article thumbnail

Governments must prepare for quantum computing risks

Open Access Government - Technology News

Post-quantum cryptography standards highlight the need for governments to prepare for emerging quantum computing risks Previously considered a distant concern, quantum computers may soon compromise the governments most sensitive data. Here’s how to get ready. In less than a decade, quantum computers have undergone one of the most impressive transformations in technological history.

article thumbnail

Municipal Maintenance: Ready, Set, Inspect!

Speaker: Noratek

Maintaining municipal operations is no small task, especially when budgets are tight and public expectations are high. In this webinar, we’ll explore how local governments can streamline their maintenance operations while ensuring safety, compliance, and efficiency. What You’ll Gain: Proven strategies for effective inspection management Insight into leveraging digital tools Practical tips for addressing common maintenance challenges Examples of municipalities that have achieved success.