By Polco on January 2, 2026
In 2025, communities faced bigger questions, tighter resources, and rising expectations for transparency and participation. Throughout the year, Polco published a wide range of webinars, white papers, and blog articles designed to help public sector leaders navigate those challenges with confidence. From practical guidance on budgeting and benchmarking to deeper insights on trust, data, and civic engagement, these resources reflect what matters most right now. This roundup highlights the most impactful Polco content of 2025. Each resource is grounded in real community needs and built to help you move from insight to action.
Top Webinars
The 2026 Budget Crunch
Local governments and school districts across the nation are bracing for what many leaders describe as the most difficult budget year in more than a decade. During Polco’s December webinar, experts from GFOA, Wichita State University, Anchorage School District, and Balancing Act joined Polco’s leadership to discuss the converging forces behind today’s fiscal pressures and how communities can respond.
Countdown to the Future: 10 Mega Trends Shaping Cities and Communities
From workforce transformation to climate resilience, a recent webinar hosted by Polco and the Telosa Foundation explored 10 megatrends that are reshaping how we live, work, and govern. With insights from local leaders, planners, and researchers, the session focused on how cities can proactively respond to the challenges ahead—while creating more inclusive, resilient, and vibrant places for all.
Hype to Help: How to Actually Use AI in Local Government
In Polco’s recent webinar, “Hype to Help: How to Actually Use AI in Local Government,” Alex Pedersen and Jim Schuett broke down AI’s role in public service using a 10-part roadmap. This session offered local leaders a realistic, practical lens on where AI fits (and where it doesn’t) in the day-to-day operations of government.
Top White Papers
5 HR Practices That Matter Most for Residents
A new study led by UKG, Polco, and Barrett & Greene tested the hypothesis that more effective human capital processes in municipalities leads to better outcomes for residents. We found there were five HR practices in municipal government which were closely tied to positive resident perceptions of local government performance and community livability.
The State of Local Government Budgeting in 2025: Are We Rethinking Enough?
In partnership with GFOA, Polco conducted a national survey of budget officers and finance leaders. The results, captured in our whitepaper, paint a revealing picture of progress, pain points, and what's still needed to build truly transparent, performance-driven budgets.
Top Articles
The State of AI in 2025: What We Learned and Where We're Headed
The most fascinating development of 2025 wasn't any single breakthrough. It was the realization that the boundaries we thought were clear have dissolved into uncertainty. Where does scalable AI actually top out? We don't know. Is it a mile away? Ten miles? Are we even measuring distance correctly?
Focus on What Matters Most. A Polco Reflection
early a decade ago, two former Air Force officers, Dr. Nick Mastronardi and Alex Pedersen, saw something broken in how communities made decisions. Local governments were expected to solve increasingly complex challenges, yet they were often doing so without clear data, without representative public input, and without tools that helped turn insight into action.
10 Simple Rules for Using AI in Grant Writing
AI can be a game-changer for grant writers, helping you brainstorm ideas, organize information, and craft compelling proposals faster than ever. But to get the most out of it (and avoid common pitfalls), you need a few ground rules. Whether you’re a city staffer, nonprofit director, or community volunteer, these tips will help you work smarter with AI without losing your own voice or your funding chances.
Announcing the 2025 Best in Governance National Champions
These communities aren’t just performing well, they’re transforming how government works. By blending resident voice, trusted data, and actionable insight, they’re charting a new course toward governance that is smarter, more connected, and more responsive to community needs.
Where Do Our Tax Dollars Go?
People want to know that their contributions (property, income, and sales taxes) aren’t disappearing into a black hole of bureaucracy. They want transparency, clarity, and proof that public spending supports public good. Use tools like Polco’s Taxpayer Receipt to create a personalized breakdown of spending by service. Residents enter basic data (like property value or income), and instantly see how their taxes fund services.
Which U.S. Cities Deserve an NFL Team? Our Data Science Team Has Answers!
Our team of data aficionados analyzed a mountain of numbers to see which cities have the strongest potential to support a franchise. Note that we didn’t try to predict if these hypothetical teams would dominate on the field. It’s purely about fan support, local enthusiasm, stadium logistics, and the ability to create a lasting NFL culture.
How Edmonds School District Reimagined Community Engagement through Budget Simulations
By using Polco, Edmonds gave the public a hands-on way to navigate budget decisions—something far more meaningful than attending a one-way presentation or reviewing static spreadsheets. The response exceeded expectations. Over two budget cycles, the simulation received more than 14,000 pageviews, nearly 2,000 hours of total engagement time, and over 2,200 completed submissions.
These resources are just the starting point. Explore Polco’s full Resource Center to see how data, engagement, and AI-powered tools can support smarter decisions and stronger communities. Whether you are planning your next survey, preparing for budget season, or looking to engage residents more effectively, Polco is here to help. Browse the resources, watch the webinars, and connect with our team to see what is possible when community voices lead the way.
AI in Government: A New Era of Data-Driven Decision-Making
Focus on What Matters Most. A Polco Reflection
