Six trends that state and local governments will face in 2026

What big-picture issues and topics should we be monitoring this year? UNC School of Government faculty are looking ahead to the key issues local governments need to tackle this year—and the solutions they are working to create to solve them. Read about six trends that state and local governments will face in 2026.

Kirk Boone, on North Carolina’s rising property assessments and possible tax reform

The School of Government is proud to share that faculty member Whitney Afonso was elected as vice chair for the Association for Budgeting & Financial Management (ABFM). She assumed the role in January 2026.

Maria Cuenca-Romero is driven by a genuine desire to give back, turning her passion for public service into meaningful change for the communities she serves. After attaining a bachelor’s degree in political science and global studies, Cuenca-Romero served in the Peace Corps in Peru before signing up for Lead for North Carolina. Lead for NC is a leadership development program that places aspiring public service leaders in fellowships at local government offices across the state.

North Carolina’s burgeoning hemp industry could face obstacles to its continued growth with the recent passage of federal legislation, set to take effect in November 2026.

Alyssa Blair Zimmerman is married to a U.S. Army veteran and comes from a family ingrained in public service.

Her dad served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 13 years and as a police officer for five. Her mom, her “biggest role model,” works for a Veterans Affairs hospice center.

The School of Government is excited to welcome Colt Jensen to its faculty. Jensen joined as an assistant professor of public administration and government in the summer of 2025 and works in the general area of local government management. He came to the School faculty after recently serving as a faculty member for Georgia Southern University.

The School of Government congratulates faculty members Whitney Afonso and Kimberly Nelson, who were honored with receipt of the 2025 Best Book Award from the American Society for Public Administration’s (ASPA) Section on Public Administration Research.

The School of Government is pleased to share the continued work of Lead for North Carolina Fellows. As the western region of the state continues to respond to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the School placed Lead for NC Fellows in each of the five western Councils of Government in North Carolina as well as 10 other fellows in the western region of the state.

Former School of Government faculty member David Ammons, Albert Coates Professor Emeritus of Public Administration and Government, has authored a new publication.

In the early 2000s, the growing town of Morrisville, North Carolina, first began envisioning the value a town center could bring for their burgeoning population. They wanted an area that would have multiple uses: residential space, retail shops, and parks, all within a walkable area. “The town center is meant to activate the area and to create a destination that is distinctly Morrisville. The way we grew, we never developed a natural downtown for people to come to,” said Brandon Zuidema, current town manager of Morrisville.