All articles tagged with #public finance
North Dakota ranked first in the 2026 Financial State of the States report, posting a $21 billion surplus and a per-taxpayer surplus of $72,300. This strong position contrasts sharply with 24 states facing deficits, driven largely by the state’s Legacy Fund and energy revenues.
The Hotel Roanoke Conference Center Commission finalized the sale of the facility to a Virginia Tech Foundation subsidiary on Wednesday. The entire $14 million proceeds will go to the city of Roanoke, though $4-$5 million in other assets and obligations remain to be resolved. The commission, a joint city-university body established in the early 1990s, will eventually dissolve after the sale, marking the end of a three-decade partnership.
Washington State voters will decide in November whether to repeal the 9.9% income tax on individuals earning over $1 million, a measure expected to generate $3 billion annually. Campaigns opposing the tax argue it violates state prohibitions on income taxes and may drive away wealthy residents, while supporters contend it is essential for funding public services. The debate centers on fiscal stability versus constitutional tax restrictions.
Chicago’s City Council Finance Committee approved the sale of the city’s parking meter rights to Stonepeak Partners for $2.53 billion. The deal includes a $75 million transfer fee and a 5% profit share for the city, ending the 2008 privatization era.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Chair Stephanie Sneed resigned from her leadership role on September 22, 2026, ahead of a vote to oust her. The board simultaneously voted 5-4 to terminate Superintendent Crystal Hill for convenience. The turmoil follows allegations of unauthorized vendor payments and a request for a state criminal investigation into district finances.
Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley released a 35-page audit on September 15, 2026, alleging that Lancaster County Treasurer Rachel Garver’s office committed nearly $1 billion in accounting errors. While Foley describes the discrepancy as a 'gross mishandling' of tax revenues, Garver maintains that no funds were lost, arguing the error was a double-counting issue in a semi-annual report. The audit also identified specific misallocations totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars and timekeeping violations in the County Clerk’s office.
Chancellor John Healey will argue the UK economy is 'turning a corner' in a Monday speech, despite record-high borrowing costs. He will unveil a £150m fund for northern businesses, aiming to boost confidence before his October 28 Budget. Critics warn the plan lacks substance amid fiscal pressures from global conflicts and rising debt.
The Tampa City Council approved a $2.3 billion stadium deal for the Tampa Bay Rays by a 4-3 margin on August 27, 2026. The project, located at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry Campus, requires $876 million in public funding and $1.4 billion in private investment. The Hillsborough County Commission will vote on the deal on August 28. If approved, construction could begin in September 2026, with the stadium targeting a 2029 opening. The Rays’ current lease at Tropicana Field expires in 2028, creating urgency for the new facility.
Mayor Quinton Lucas will push a plan to negotiate a 30-year lease for a $1.9 billion Royals ballpark opening in 2030 at Washington Square Park, with about $600 million in city funding via bonds, appropriations and TIF and potential state/county support. The measure requires no public vote and would head to the Board of Parks and Recreation for approval. Royals ownership has not publicly endorsed it. The site between Main and Grand (north of Pershing Road), near Union Station and Crown Center, would not require major demolitions and offers about 19,000 parking spots within a 10-minute walk; Aspiria Campus in Overland Park has been ruled out as a site option.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou proposed significant austerity measures, including scrapping two public holidays and freezing welfare spending, to reduce France's budget deficit and address public debt, facing criticism from opposition parties.