Strategic Decision-Making for Special Districts With Public Opinion Research
By Adam Probolsky, President Despite the essential role of special districts, we all know that they often operate in the background, with limited attention from the media and public. This obscurity often leads leadership to believe they can avoid some of the typical...
America’s Emergency Services Districts to Cover Cooperative Purchasing, AFG, and Federal Updates
America’s special districts providing emergency and public safety services will meet for their first virtual forum that will cover topics ranging from procurement best practices, highlights for the 2024 Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) program, and federal...
The Fiscal Benefits of Special Districts’ Hazard Mitigation Plan Engagement
Recent disasters are a stern reminder that preparedness is key to effectively managing and recovering from a major event. It is critical for America’s special districts to engage with fellow local special districts and general governments providing services in their...
Library District Forum to Address Ongoing, Emerging Governance and Policy Issues
America’s Library Districts will convene on November 21 for a virtual forum discussion to assess the current and future policy trends, strengthen community bonds, and formally establish a Library District resource network. The American Association of Special Districts...
Call for Special Districts’ Governance, Professional Presentations
The American Association of Special Districts is calling for in-person and online presentations that deliver expert perspectives and professional/governance resources to special districts’ elected and appointed leadership, management, and staff. This is AASD's first...
American Association of Special Districts Formally Organizes, Sets Leadership and Vision
ARVADA, Colo.—The nation’s leading special district advocates and stakeholders gathered Friday to formally establish the American Association of Special Districts (AASD) – America’s leading independent nonprofit organization with a mission to unite, strengthen, and...
What Congress Punting FY25 Funding to December Means for Special Districts
In what has become an annual tradition, Congress passed legislation to keep the federal government open past the fiscal year-end deadline on September 30, pushing action until December. The continuing resolution (CR) – H.R. 9747 (Cole), the 2025 Continuing...
America’s Special District Leaders to Gather for Founding Association Meeting
The American Association of Special Districts (AASD) will host its Founding Meeting with co-founding board members and stakeholders set to convene for its first set of formal business, networking, and to establish key priorities for the years ahead. AASD’s Founding...
Library District Leaders to Convene in First American Special District Forum
Elected, appointed, and managing leaders of the nation’s library districts are invited to attend the American Association of Special Districts-Library Division’s “Founding Forum” and engage with fellow library district...
America’s Park & Recreation Districts Invited to Virtual Priorities & Revenue Forum
The American Association of Special Districts (AASD) will host its first virtual Park & Recreation Division forum, scheduled to feature an expert panel discussion covering alternative revenue sources and a roundtable conversation to identify park districts’...
Tackling Primary Challenges Impacting Recognition of America’s Special District Services
Special districts are critical points for essential public services in thousands of communities across the nation. They serve all types of communities in all 50 states – from rural Arizona to downtown Chicago – although most prevalent in rural, unincorporated...
Highlighting the Farm Bill for America’s Special Districts
The traditionally every-five-year Farm Bill includes important programs for special district services such as USDA Rural Development, forestry, rural healthcare, broadband development, and rural water/wastewater programs. The...
Three Concepts of a Strong Association for America’s Special Districts
The American Association of Special Districts was established in August 2024 to fulfill the long-standing need for a strong association to navigate and address broad, underlying issues impacting the nation’s 35,000+ special districts. This article introduces...
American Association of Special Districts Launches to Strengthen, Understand Nation’s Special Purpose Governments
Special district governments now have a national home to advocate for broader state and federal recognition, collaborate with fellow districts on advocacy needs, and a network of trusted professional resources with the American Association of Special Districts (AASD)....
Property Tax Revenue Increase Drives State Reforms at Districts’ Expense
Home and property values across the country have generally climbed since 2020, a product of a myriad of economic issues, interstate migration, and more. The result has been growing pains for states that have historically had low property tax levels. Americans’...
Community Wildfire Protection Plans are an Investment
Wildfires are posing risks to more and more communities and are increasingly destructive. It goes without saying – it is becoming more vital to have a comprehensive community plan for mitigation, readiness, and action. Special districts across the country in...