America’s Special Districts to Launch Task Force for Local Revenue Sustainability
The state legislative trend of mitigating rising property tax bills continues in 2025, in what may have been the most challenging year since 2020 for districts to advocate and educate their representatives on the consequences of capping and freezing taxes. In response...
Dr. Edward Walton Appointed as AASD Mid-America Director
ARVADA, Colo. -- The American Association of Special Districts (AASD) has announced the appointment of Dr. Edward Walton as the Association’s Director representing special district members in the Mid-America Region. Dr. Walton leads the Springfield-Greene County...
Legislative Assaults on Property Taxes Sound Alarm Bells for Special Districts Across States
Special districts across several states had the task during their 2025 legislative sessions to advocate against proposals that would deeply undercut local tax revenues. This, as the post-pandemic push to cap or reduce property taxes continues trending more eastward...
AASD Applauds Bipartisan Senate Introduction of the Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act
AASD Applauds Bipartisan Senate Introduction of the Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act The American Association of Special Districts (AASD) strongly supports federal efforts to define “special district,” which now includes introduction of the bipartisan...
Missouri Special Districts Meet for First Steering Committee Meeting
Special district leaders from across Missouri virtually met May 29 to kickoff efforts to develop an organization to network, educate, and advocate for all types of district services. Elected and appointed board members, district administrators, and stakeholders from...
5 1/2 Common Misconceptions about the Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act
Special districts have historically been at a disadvantage to engage with and participate in a wide range of federally-sourced programs. This long-standing public policy issue is complex and is largely rooted in the lack of a single definition of what a “special...
Registration Open for 3 Regional Special Districts Governance Summits
Registration is now open for three upcoming AASD Special Districts Governance Summits, offering regional opportunities for special district leaders to gather for two days of networking, education, and advocacy on common issues. The American Association of Special...
NPPGov Partners with the American Association of Special Districts
SEATTLE, WA – NPPGov is proud to announce a direct partnership with the American Association of Special Districts (AASD). NPPGov is a national cooperative procurement organization offering publicly solicited contracts to government entities nationwide. Cole...
Breaking Down the Skinny Budget Proposal – What’s on the Line for America’s Special Districts
This article first appeared Friday, May 16, 2025, in the Special Districts Download, AASD's biweekly newsletter offering insights into federal and state trending advocacy issues, governance resources, and program updates. The White House notified Congress of its...
Lake of the Ozarks’ Special District Leaders Invited to Policy and Governance Roundtable
Special district leaders from across the Lake of the Ozarks region are invited to join a roundtable discussion on governance and policy issues impacting the local public services they provide in their communities. The Lake Area Special Districts Roundtable will take...
Registration Open for the Northern Special Districts Governance Summit
The American Association of Special Districts (AASD) will host the Northern Special Districts Governance Summit in Fargo, N.D., bringing special district leaders together for two days of networking, education, and advocacy in late July. Elected and appointed...
Arizona Special District Leaders Host Roundtable with West Valley Congressional Delegation
Leaders of special districts providing essential local public services across the west Phoenix Metro gathered Wednesday with representatives of the West Valley Congressional Delegation on federal issues impacting service to their communities. The “West Valley Special...
With FEMA Reforms Possible, Trump Admin Wants Feedback on Experiences with the Agency
A White House review panel is seeking public input on experiences with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during disaster as part of a broader review of agency programs. AASD encourages special districts to provide their feedback to the Federal Emergency...
Missouri Special District Leaders Gather for Summit, Look to Explore State Organization
Missouri’s special district leaders gathered in Springfield for a summit tailored to address common issues impacting their services across the state and began to consider next steps for a potential state organization to enhance resources to meet their needs. The...
AASD and Granicus Partner to Strengthen the Network of America’s Special District Leaders
ARVADA, Colo. -- The American Association of Special Districts (AASD) and Granicus are partnering to strengthen connections among special district leaders across the nation, facilitate resource sharing, and to enhance advocacy on common issues they face. Granicus, a...
AASD Supports the Special District Fairness and Accessibility Act
The American Association of Special Districts strongly supports legislation introduced to federally define the term “special district” in efforts to address the primary problem impacting special districts’ engagement with federal projects and access to...
The South’s Special District Leaders Gather for First-Ever Governance Summit
Special district leaders and stakeholders from across the South gathered in New Orleans for a first-of-its-kind regional conference geared toward special purpose local governments of all stripes together for networking, governance education and resources, and...
Texas Special Districts Coalition Unites to Strengthen Advocacy, Resources for Special Districts
The American Association of Special Districts congratulates the Texas Special Districts Coalition on becoming the 10th state organization in the country to formalize in service to all types of special districts in a state. AUSTIN, Texas -- Leaders in Texas special...
Dr. Claudia Riegel Joins the American Association of Special Districts Board of Directors
The American Association of Special Districts is excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Claudia Riegel as the Mosquito, Vector, and Pest (MVP) Control Division representative on the AASD Board of Directors. Riegel is the Director of the New Orleans Mosquito,...
Welcoming Katie Groke as AASD’s Park & Recreation Board Member
The American Association of Special Districts is excited to announce the appointment of Katie Groke as the Park & Recreation Division representative on the AASD Board of Directors. Groke is the Director of Community Services at the Apex Park and Recreation...
Virtual Panel: Special Districts Addressing Water Infrastructure for Firefighting in Policy and on the Ground
The American Association of Special Districts and the National Association of Emergency & Fire Officials are teaming up to highlight policy challenges and best practices for America's emergency services districts, water districts, and more as they take on water...
The Urgent Case for Special Districts in Future-Proofing America’s Resilience
Professional Network | PerspectivesRichard Seline | Future Proofing America Collaborative The past two years have delivered a stark reminder of America's vulnerability to natural disasters. From the devastating wildfires scorching California to the hurricanes...
Beginning to Tell Texas’ Special Districts Story
Nearly 3,000 special districts play a significant role to provide critical and essential services to millions of Texans altogether providing critical infrastructure and essential services, with a heavy focus on water resources and public safety, in all but one of...
AASD, NAEFO: A Partnership for America’s Fire, Ambulance, and 911 Districts
ARVADA, Colo. -- The American Association of Special Districts (AASD) and the National Association of Emergency and Fire Officials (NAEFO) have forged a partnership to elevate the federal voice of America’s special districts providing emergency services, expand...
America’s Mosquito, Vector, Pest District Leaders to Discuss Priorities, Strategies, and More
The American Association of Special Districts (AASD) will host its first virtual Mosquito, Vector, and Pest (MVP) Control Division virtual forum to identify, discuss, and begin crafting a framework of priorities for this most unique form of local government. Leaders...
Water Infrastructure for Firefighting Back in the Spotlight, A Window of Policy Opportunity
The Issues, Policy Perspectives, and a Panel Discussion The recent wildfire disaster in Los Angeles has restarted the conversation around adequate water infrastructure for firefighting – or, rather, the lack thereof – in communities across the country, especially in...
Sourcewell and the American Association of Special Districts partner to help special districts streamline procurement
New collaboration expands access to cost-saving cooperative purchasing solutions to America's Special Districts STAPLES, Minn. – Special districts provide essential services that keep communities running — from fire protection and emergency medical response to water...
Special Districts Suffer from Inconsistent Measurements and Lack of Population Recognition
Special districts are not well represented in federal data and reporting on the health of local governments across the country, and the populations they serve are not federally recognized due to a glitch in federal law preventing recognition of special district’s...
Maintaining a Good Employer-Employee Relationship From Recruitment to Retention
AASD Professional Network Insights: Sara Carroll, Owner, AZ Districts Solutions Fostering good employer / employee relationships through staffing decisions paired with strong policies and guidelines are paramount for success of a special district. Crafting this...
Update: Court Delays Funding Freeze Directive by One Week
A District Court Judge in Washington, DC, has delayed the Office of Management & Budget directive to pause federal grant and finance programs pending agencies’ review and alignment with Administration priorities. The White House Office of Management and Budget...
Federal Grant and Loan Programs to be Halted for Review
UPDATE -- January 28, 2025, 4:15 p.m. MT: A District Court Judge in Washington, DC, has delayed the Office of Management & Budget directive to pause federal grant and finance programs pending agencies’ review and alignment with Administration priorities. U.S....
FEMA Waives Buy America, Build America for Mitigation Revolving Loan Program
“Build America, Buy America” policy requiring federal infrastructure investments use iron, steel, construction material, and other products manufactured in the United States has received a one-year wiaver for projects funded through the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving...
Federally Defining ‘Special District’ is Crucial for All of America’s Districts
American Association of Special Districts' Members receive policy highlights and insights, as well as governance perspectives, in the Associaiton's biweekly newsletter, the Special Districts Download. This article was originally published in the January 10, 2025, to...
Governance Summits for America’s Special District Leaders Announced
The American Association of Special Districts has announced the first two of six regional conferences for special district leaders and officials to gather for networking, advocacy, professional resources, and best practices on governance issues. Special district...
America’s Special Districts Set 2025 Public Policy, Coalition Development & Governance Education Priorites
The American Association of Special Districts (AASD) established Wednesday its State and Federal Policy Platform and adopted founding policy priorities to advance and strengthen America’s 35,000+ special districts through a focused set of advocacy goals uniting all...
AASD Joins Stakeholders Urging Action on the ‘Special District Grant Accessibility Act’
In a December 2 letter to Senate Leadership, special district stakeholders from across the country underscored their support for landmark legislation to federally define “special district” and urged Lame Duck action on the bill. The American Association of Special...
Highlighting the 2024 Assistance to Firefighter Grant for Special Districts
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will open its Fiscal Year 2024 Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) application period on Tuesday, November 12 - and the nation's 7,000+ special districts providing emergency services are eligible to apply. The program...
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...