Government Finance: Limits• Legal limitation strategies
– Property tax reforms– Revenue limitations– Expenditure limitations
• Income tax– Ties to federal policies?– “Circuit breakers”– Targeted tax credits?
Government Revenues: Future?
• New sources: Fees? Lottery? Taxing services? Taxing intangibles?
• Electronic commerce: Who gets revenue stream?
• Distribution of revenue among levels of government?
• Differing strategies for differing services?
Major Issues Facing States (Policy)• Finance & Revenue Questions• Economy
– Dislocation & joblessness: plant closings, off-shoring, structural changes in economy
– Economic development in response: Strategies Competition
• Population & demographic changes:– Immigration/out-migration, – Rural/urban– Aging – Wealth/poverty
• Families/social services/welfare (and reform)
Issues Facing States (Policy)
• National Security: preparation, costs• Health
– Medicaid – Uninsured– Costs of state employee coverage– Delivery systems: availability & quality– Medical malpractice costs– Chronic illness and related
• Education– Pre-school, elementary/secondary (& “No Child Left Behind”)– Higher education– Retraining for changing economy
Issues Facing States (Policy)• Environment
– “Smart growth” and land use– Air & water quality, cleanup, transportation
• Justice system: Prisons, Death penalty, costs• Government service delivery:
– design, privatization, scope, finances– Infrastructure problems
• Federal/state/local balance & federalism– Unfunded mandates– Preemption (in many areas)– Devolution– Role of non-profits re social welfare
State Government: Legal Issues• Separation of powers (legislature, executive,
courts)• Legislatures: term limits, campaign financing,
political polarization• Government agencies: Governor’s role;
delegation to agencies, structural reorganization, relationship with feds/localities, leadership
• Judiciary: selection and “dispute resolution”• Accountability to citizens
– Initiative & referendum (direct democracy)– “Open government” in electronic age