American City & County

Report identifies states in financial peril

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:53:00 EST

Loss of state revenues, large budget gaps, increasing joblessness, high foreclosure rates, legal and poor money-management practices have brought California and several other states to the brink of financial disaster, according to a report from the Washington-based Pew Center on the States. The report, "Beyond California: States in Fiscal Peril," also indicates that those states' financial woes can slow the entire nation's recovery from recession.

Worst is yet to come for county budgets, survey says

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:53:00 EST

The nation's counties, small and large, are still struggling to cope with declining revenues as a result of the recession, according to a new survey by the Washington-based National Association of Counties (NACo). And, while the current budget crisis is the worst in nearly two decades, many survey respondents said they expect next year to be harder still.

Coalition calls on Congress to adopt ‘complete streets' program

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:52:00 EST

In the last 15 years, more than 76,000 Americans have been killed while crossing or walking along streets in their communities, including 3,906 children under 16 who have been killed this decade alone, according to a report from the Washington-based Transportation For America (TFA). TFA's "Dangerous by Design" report urges Congress to include a plan for safer street designs in the federal transportation bill now under consideration.

USCM report: Cities to remain in recession until next year

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:19:00 EST

Federal assistance is now necessary to prevent economic conditions in the nation's major cities from deteriorating further, according to a report from the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM).

Governments, agencies work to save Puget Sound

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

More than 50 cities and counties in the Puget Sound region have joined with non-profit environmental protection groups to launch a public outreach campaign encouraging residents to end behaviors that contribute to pollution in Puget Sound.