We are not the customers of our own services. And even if we think we are, we are still not: we know too much, we cannot stop thinking as provider or designer. Sometimes we are the customers of other people’s services and that holds up a mirror – sometimes a very distorting mirror – toRead… Read more »
Many states are vying for federal Race to the Top funds. In order to get these merit-based funds, states are required to perform annual teacher evaluations and submit overall performance records as part of the application process. However, often these evaluations remain hidden from the parents and students of these teachers. But recently,the New YorkRead… Read more »
Two new reports out this past week focus on tools and techniques for agencies to cope with the new fiscal austerity they face in years ahead. One is by the Partnership for Public Service, the other by the Government Accountability Office. They are both worth reading because they focus on smart ways to make cutsRead… Read more »
A collection of federal workers’ groups has sent letters to Congress, asking members to carefully considercertain aspects of Obama’s deficit reduction plan. The groups represent about 4.6 million Federal employees. “We appreciate the Administration’s call for ‘some sacrifice from all of us,’ ” the letter continues. “However, federal employees are being disproportionately targeted in theRead… Read more »
Deltek Sr. Analyst Chris Cotner reports. Previous Deltek analyses and projections have demonstrated several key points with regard to state budgets. First, from FY 2009-2011, state budgets (all-funds, overall budgets) increased at an abnormal rate. Second, FY 2012 is the first projected overall state budget loss since Deltek began tracking in FY 1987. Third, andRead… Read more »
Where do you start to standardize legislative information for all 50 United States? Blazing an open data trail for one state government isn’t easy, so shifting 50 must be nearly impossible. Or is it? The Open State Project is making progress towards the impossible—and closing in on the goal. When I first heard about thisRead… Read more »
So Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 is now in the books, and the new government FY 2012 begins. I don’t think anyone can argue that this end of FY was one of the most challenging end of FYs in recent memory, with budgetary issues and Continuing Resolutions adding to a sense of doom in industry, ifRead… Read more »
Banks these days seem to be going wild with new fees for everything. More and more, you can’t do anything without incurring a fee. Walk into a bank? Get a fee. Request an old statement? Get a fee. Close your account? Get a fee. It’s crazy. And the latest fee announcement, the craziest of all,Read… Read more »
Deltek Analyst Emily Magurne reports. Houston, Texas is the fourth largest city in the United States, with a population of 2.1 million and a broad industrial base in energy, manufacturing, aeronautics and transportation. After being elected in late 2009, Houston Mayor Annise Parker declared her administration would focus on balancing the city’s budget and selectingRead… Read more »
Deltek Health Care and Social Services Analyst Amanda White reports. September proved to be rather eventful for health care. Deltek celebrated the Sixth Annual National Health IT Week, September 12-16, 2011, by releasing a series of blogs highlighting IT progress in the states, along with vendor recommendations based on those trends. National Health IT WeekRead… Read more »