Falling Tax Revenues Slam States

Alarming second quarter tax revenue numbers reported today in the Wall Street Journal. Of course when state revenues fall, counties are next in line.

Looks like rain

NACo's Director of Research Jackie Byers is quoted in this Sunday Washington Post article on county rainy day funds.

Pittsburgh Steels Itself for G-20 Protests

Whoa, take a look at this photo in today's Wall Street Journal of the new riot gear that Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) sheriff deputies will be sporting during the G-20 summit Sept. 24-25. That's along way from what Mayberry Sheriff Andy Taylor used to wear. But seriously, the sheriff's dept. has had little time to prepare for the meetings which can draw tens of thousands of protesters. According to the article, the Allegheny Sheriff's Department will have help from the National Guard among others. Side note: NACo's Annual Conference is in Pittsburgh in 2012. I don't think the deputies will need to break out their riot gear for that gathering.

WSJ: States shut down to save cash

Front page above-the-fold story in this morning's Wall Street Journal on states shutting down to save money to save cash. "Maine, Maryland, Michigan Slash Service; 'Nightmare' at California Vehicle Registry" is the subheadine. In a striking graphic, it shows that Washington state has eliminated 7,000 jobs; California has shed 27,000 teachers and drivers cannot register their cars in person; and Arizona has laid off 1,000 workers and furloughed others 1-2 days a month. Back east, in Maryland, the state highway administration is operating half the usual number of traffic patrols and in Georgia 25,000 are facing furloughs and lawyers can't file papers with the state Court of Appeals. Some 38,000 are facing furloughs in Michigan.

First VP Whitley gets ink in Dallas

NACo First Vice President Glen Whitley, county judge, Tarrant County, Texas, was mentioned in a Sept. 1 Dallas Morning News article written by Ian McCann. The article was about a Congressional forum held Aug. 31 in North Texas about federal health reform. Whitley made a brief presentation promoting NACo's highly successful Prescription Discount Card Program as a way for Texans to save money on their medicine costs. What the article did not mention was that Texans have saved more than $6.8 million since 2006. Nationwide, more than $204 million has been saved. One-third of the nation's 3,068 counties are making these free cards available to their residents thanks to NACo and partner CVS Caremark.

Radio blues

NACo surveys over the past year or so have documented the severe decline of county revenues which have strained county services and budgets. Counties are not alone struggling in this down economy. Sarah McBride of The Wall Street Journal reports today about the staggering decline of revenues in the radio industry. Already water-logged with high debt, radio companies who are desperately trying to meet their loan obligations are essentially, "begging for mercy." A chart accompanying the article is striking: It shows that radio advertising revenues are expected to decline 27% by 2011. It's even worse for newspaper advertising: down 42%. Television is in a tough spot too: down 11%. As we fold up the beach chairs and face the U.S. economy post Labor Day, you have to wonder: What will become of our local newspapers and radio and TV stations?