AP Enterprise: Local tax votes do well nationwide

NACo is quoted in this Associated Press article about how voters in several states have been embracing tax increases at the local level. The AP analysis looked at 39 states, representing a cross-section of the country. It quotes NACo and mentions NACo's “County Economic Status” survey from the summer.

U.S. newspaper circulation down

You have to wonder just how far newspaper circulation will fall before it reaches bottom.

New figures show that most of the nation's largest newspapers - such as USA Today (-3.7%), The New York Times (-5.5%), The Washington Post (-6.4%), and Chicago Tribune (-5.2%) - continue to lose paid subscribers. The only major newspaper up is The Wall Street Journal (+1.8%).

Newspaper industry officials say that newspaper content reaches many more people today than ever before thanks to the Web and cell phones. The problem, which remains unresolved today, is how to make money in this online world of instant information.

Unpaid state bills shift burden to local governments

Sad but true reporting here once again from the excellent stateline.org (The Pew Center on the States), on the financial dilemma many counties are facing. When the state is broke, money does not flow to the counties who are providing direct and costly services to their residents.

LUCC hears from powerful Congressman

NACo's Large Urban County Caucus is meeting this week in Palm Beach County, Fla. to set its 2011 Legislative Priorities. They heard via video yesterday from Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.), who chairs the Congressional Urban Caucus and is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. He promised LUCC members to "put cities and counties at the front end" of Congressional priorities and funding."