State and Local Taxes

How should the state seek to meet the revenue needed to cover costs? General income taxation? User fees (like toll roads)? Casinos (somewhat regressive)? Most citizens want more services and want to pay fewer taxes... What is the political way out of this difficult situation for state politicians?

Education Policy

Following the guide of Chapter 11 in NPNC, take a look at your state's education expenditures and create two graphs that mirror 11.2 and 11.3. Post these two graphs to your blog and discuss their meaning for your state.

Local Politics

Using NPNC Chapter 9 as a guide, discuss the role of local politics in your state. How much power does the state government cede to local governments? What are the strengths of your state's local governments? What are the major weaknesses? How have local politics changed, or in what ways are they likely to change going forward?

Book Review

Spend a paragraph reviewing the new library book you've selected. What is the main argument? How well does the book make that argument? How can you relate the main argument to State and Local Government?