Local Government Insights

Local Governments Today Have an Opportunity to Build Trust: Smarter Digital Transformation is Key

When government doesn’t deliver the same level of digital services citizens have come to expect from their private-sector interactions, they lose an opportunity to build trust in their communities.
In this episode, we talk with Lou Schiavone, Chief Customer Officer at Avenu Insights and Analytics. For the past 20 years, he has focused on serving state and local governments nationwide, leading the sales, development and delivery of a diverse set of innovative solutions. Our discussion delves into:
• How governments can instill trust in their communities through digital transformation
• Government’s overreliance on paper driven processes
• Tax collection processes that are efficient, digitized, and automated
• Ways government can improve communication and build trust
• Key takeaways for government leaders looking to instill trust in their community
This discussion was taken from our podcast series, Local Government Insights. To hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple or your favorite podcast platform.
Your reviews and feedback are greatly appreciated.

How Local Governments Navigate Budget Shortfalls

Local governments are working harder than ever over the last year to manage budget shortfalls. Changes in revenue can impact key services for the community. Accurate forecasting and revenue maximization is key during these uncertain times.
In this episode, we talk with Paul Colangelo, the CEO of Avenu Insights and Analytics. He brings a wealth of experience to the conversation having over two decades of experience working with local governments. Our discussion delves into:
· Untapped revenue for local governments during the economic downturn
· Conducting a business license discovery and recovery review and how it helps with revenue enhancement
· Preparing for fluctuations in revenue streams as the economy recovers
· The long term impacts of the COVID pandemic.
This discussion was taken from our podcast series, Local Government Insights. To hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple or your favorite podcast platform.
Your reviews and feedback are greatly appreciated.

How Digital Technology is Giving Old Documents New Life w/ Alfredo Frauenfelder

For local governments, moving beyond fear of digitalization is essential to making their products and services more accessible for constituents.
In this episode, I talk with Alfredo Frauenfelder, Client Executive at Avenu Insights & Analytics, about how digital technology can give old documents new life and what that process looks like for local governments.
What we discussed:
Why preservation of documentation for future generations is critical
How to capture, store, and publish handwritten documents
The current state of historical documents for most governments
What challenges Local Governments face starting these projects
How digitalization can actually pay for itself over time
This discussion with Alfredo Frauenfelder was taken from our show Local Government Insights: Modernizing Government Leadership. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here.

Budgeting Sales Tax Revenue

Local governments can fine-tune their budget forecasts by understanding thetremendous impacts that and state and federal programs have had on Sales TaxRevenue over the past year.
In this episode, we talk with Mark Bryson, Senior Economic Analyst at Avenu, who works with California jurisdictions and is an expert in helping them navigate the changes COVID has brought to revenue forecasts. Our discussion delves into:
· key concepts relevant to understanding and properly budgeting for future Sales Tax Revenues
• why these basic Sales Tax concepts are important to the budgeting process
· 5 things that occurred in California that have never happened before that impact Sales Tax Revenue
· what jurisdictions throughout the country should be thinking about when they are budgeting Sales Tax Revenue these days
This discussion was taken from our podcast series, Local Government Insights. To hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple or your favorite podcast platform.
Your reviews and feedback are greatly appreciated.

Digital Government Strategies that Lower the Cost of Revenue Management

For the City of Vestavia Hills, in Alabama, effectively using data was key to navigating the challenges presented by the pandemic.
In this episode, we talked with Jeff Downes, City Manager of Vestavia Hills. We covered:
The challenges faced with providing more with less
How their team leverages technology to provide better revenue management
How Vestavia Hills dealt with the declining revenue, and increasing operational costs faced by localities.
Utilizing different data sources to glean insight in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Some of the most surprising trends to come out of the pandemic, and what changes may be permanent
This discussion with Jeff Downes was taken from our show Local Government Insights. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can findevery episode here.

Technology and Alleviating City Pain Points w/ Mike Whitehead

For the City of Rolling Hills Estates in California, the adoption of new technology has already paid off with a unique approach to administering and maximizing compliance of business license tax revenues.
In this episode, we talked with Mike Whitehead, Administrative Services Director and City Treasurer for the City of Rolling Hills Estates in California. We covered:
Challenges faced with business license administration and overall compliance
Finding solutions tailored to the unique needs and problems cities are facing
Responsibilities of staff and the shifting priorities with the use of new technology
Cost savings with technology partnerships and client facing portals
This discussion with Mike Whitehead was taken from our show Local Government Insights. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here.

The COVID-19 Effect on California Sales & Property Tax

As the nation begins to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, jurisdictions across the country are assessing the impacts. Understanding the unique impacts of the pandemic on different revenue streams is key to building accurate forecasts.
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Leila Bengali, an Economist at the UCLA Anderson Forecast, and Fran Mancia, Avenu’s VP of Government Relations. Together, they bring years of insight into what California’s future tax situation has in-store.
In this episode we cover:
• Sales tax and property tax trends in 2021
• The landscape for local governments
• What societal changes may carry over from the pandemic and impact future revenue
• Tactics jurisdictions can take to prepare for a post-COVID world
This discussion was taken from our show Local Government Insights: Modernizing Government Leadership. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Local Government Insights in your favorite podcast player.

Bridging the Gap of Women in Leadership in 2021 w/ Sharon Matthews

With ongoing national conversations about diversity in tech, it is important to remember that, mixed leadership teams perform better simply because they can solve problems more quickly and more creatively than less diverse teams.
In this episode, I talk with Sharon Matthews, Avenu's Vice Chairwoman about why tech needs women leaders and how to get them.
What we talked about:
The major milestones of Sharon's successful career in technology
The unique qualities women bring to leadership in organizations
Advice for women as they bridge the gap
Her life mantra
This discussion with Sharon Matthews was taken from our show Local Government Insights: Modernizing Government Leadership. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Local Government Insights in your favorite podcast player.

Preparing for a Post-COVID World w/ John Russo & Fran Mancia

As the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel continues to grow brighter, local governments are now setting their sights on what a post-COVID world might look like.
In this episode, I talk with John Russo, Founder and Principal of Synchronicity, and Fran Mancia, Avenu’s VP of Government Relations, about the myriad ways the pandemic has altered the work of the public and private sector.
What we talked about:
The changes that are here to stay and how they will affect local and state governments
The impact on work at public agencies and in the private sector
The challenges of moving government services online
This discussion with John Russo and Fran Mancia was taken from our show Local Government Insights: Modernizing Government Leadership. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here.
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Local Government Insights in your favorite podcast player.

Digital Citizens Deserve Digital Courts

While jury duty is not the most exciting thing to look forward to, todays citizens deserve a digital court experience and technology is providing a more streamlined jury experience for citizens.
In this episode, I talk with Michael Payton, the justice solution leader at Avenu, about how digitization can help increase jury response rates and improve the citizen experience.
What we discussed:
Challenges the courts face with day to day operations
How automation changes the way courts operate
How digitization impacts juror response rates and helps create diverse jury pools
The impact of the pandemic on our courts
This discussion with Michael Payton was taken from our show Local Government Insights. If you want to hear more episodes like this one, check us out on Apple Podcasts.
If you don’t use Apple Podcasts, you can find every episode here .