The doors of opportunity are opening for private investors in the municipal water market in the U.S. With the country facing a water infrastructure funding gap of $532 billion over the next 10 years, private-sector investments and public-private partnerships (P3s/PPPs) are expected to play a growing role in ownership, management, and operation of municipal water and wastewater system projects.
Seven months after hurricanes Harvey and Irma wreaked catastrophic damages in parts of Texas and Florida, leaving $175 billion in damages in their wake, help is on the way. Much-needed federal disaster relief dollars from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) should reach public officials in Gulf Coast counties by the end of this month.
As the fight over funding rages on in Washington, Congress is suggesting new ways to scoop up revenue that could have a negative impact on America’s airports. A Senate proposal to nearly double the passage facility charge, which is known as the airport tax, has executives of six airlines urging Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to reject the proposal and help them fight this latest attack on airports. In a letter to Chao, those major airline leaders pointed out that 17 existing federal fees on airports, totaling more than $24 billion, now account for nearly 21 percent of the cost of a round-trip ticket for citizen travelers.
Our country’s infrastructure is in crisis, and could require trillions of dollars to repair or replace.
Trump’s infrastructure plan promises far less than what is needed, leaving state and local governments to search for funds they don’t have.
Two words – blockchain and cryptocurrencies – became major buzzwords in 2017. By 2018, citizens, taxpayers and the public at large have no option – we must understand these concepts because both will likely touch our lives in the very near future. Governmental agencies are already beginning to use blockchain – an incredibly interesting and potentially disruptive technology.
“Innovation” could be municipal government’s middle name. When it comes to creativity and resourcefulness – city leaders take a backseat to no one.
Local public officials don’t have the luxury of living on the periphery of problems. Instead, they live in the middle of every issue on a daily basis. They, unlike state and federal officials, are easily accessible.
Just two days after releasing details of his $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan, President Donald Trump made a surprise announcement. During a meeting with congressional leaders, the President offered a shocker — saying he now favors a 25-cent increase in the federal gas tax to help pay for his infrastructure plan.