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Bloustein Local

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Featured Projects

Tech Fitness for Local Elected Officials and Administrators

These articles are intended to give  leaders a basic understanding of the issues, so they can make sound decisions. 

Sustainability Planning Resources for Resilient Municipal Microgrids

Local government microgrids, also known as “town center” microgrids, distribute energy to a cluster of physically separated facilities.

First, Do No Harm: Algorithms, AI, and Digital Product Liability

This report provides a pathway to reduce algorithmic harms by incentivizing developers to first, do no harm as opposed to work fast and break things.

Trenton NJ State House

Contact

848-932-2422

848-932-2830

marc.pfeiffer [at] rutgers.edu

33 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08901

About

New Jersey is served by more than 1,500 distinct local government agencies: municipalities, school districts, utilities, counties, and more, all subject to various degrees of state government oversight. Bloustein Local, CUPR’s local government research unit, has the mission to support New Jersey state and local government fiscal, administrative, and technology activities. Our activities include:

  • Encouraging and conducting applied and academic research
  • Development of resources that can assist others in conducting related research and analysis
  • Presenting at mission conferences and symposia
  • Contract research and on-call advice for organizations and institutions engaged in mission related activities
  • Promote and increase public understanding of issues by partnering with and supporting civic and media organizations that inform and educate the public on state and local government matters.

Publications and Reports

We make our publications and reports available to the public. Use the drop-down menus in the table below to find all publications by topic or specific researcher. Use specific keywords in the Search field to search for title, summary, and other fields displayed below. Use the up or down arrows to sort each column.

TitleYearTopic(s)Summaryhf:tags
Tech Fitness for Local Elected Officials and Administrators2024,

A compilation of articles originally appearing in New Jersey Municipalities, a publication of the New Jersey state League of Municipalities, from October 2023-November 2023.

cybersecurity technology
AI in Local Government, Helpful or Harmful?2023, ,

For local governments, chatbots create exciting opportunities to improve customer service, automate tasks and cut costs. Marc Pfeiffer, uses Claude AI to help write two articles on how to best incorporate this new technology.

ai chat-bots municipalities
TECH UPDATES: What Municipal CAOs Need to Know, Part 1: Tech Fitness and Cyber Hygiene2023, , ,

Marc Pfeiffer explains that there are two basic elements of technology that every municipality must have: expert advice and backups.

ai cyber-hygiene cybersecurity municipalities
First, Do No Harm: Algorithms, AI, and Digital Product Liability2023

This report authored by Marc Pfeiffer addresses the potential for algorithmic harm(s) are commonly reported to be found in (but are not limited to) technologies such as generative artificial intelligence chatbots, social media, virtual reality, Internet of Things, surveillance tech, robots, etc.

ai
Transition Plan for the Return of Local Control to Jersey City Public Schools, Third Annual Report2022

This report is the third and potentially final report of the Comprehensive Accountability Office concerning the final phase of the transition of the Jersey City Public Schools from being a state supervised school district to one with full local control.

schools
Development of Local Government Resilient Microgrids2021

Authored by Marc H. Pfeiffer, MPA. The Report complements and extends the information presented in the Fact Sheets + Webinars section of Microgrids.io.

microgrids
Transition Plan for the Return of Local Control to Paterson Public Schools, Second Annual Report2020, ,

The progress report uses a scorecard to track whether the district is carrying out the activities in the transition plan, such as choosing and evaluating a new superintendent, ensuring that school board members attend training sessions and submit a balanced budget.

jersey-city paterson schools
Transition Plan for the Return of Local Control to Newark Public Schools Final Report2020,

Our Local Government Research group analyzed and evaluated the documentation provided by the district and produced the final ‘Transition Plan for the Return of Local Control to Newark Public Schools” progress report submitted to the New Jersey Board of Education.

newark schools
Managing Technology in Local Government: Cybersecurity, Risk and Proficiency2020

Authored by Pfeiffer, H.M MPA, the report comprises a set of minimum standards and management practices that will provide a reasonable level of proficiency, protection, and sustainability for small and medium-sized government organizations.

Transition Plan for the Return of Local Control to Jersey City Public Schools, First Annual Report2020

The progress report uses a scorecard to track whether the district is carrying out the activities in the transition plan, such as choosing and evaluating a new superintendent, ensuring that school board members attend training sessions and submit a balanced budget.

Transition Plan for the Return of Local Control to Paterson Public Schools, First Annual Report2020

The progress report uses a scorecard to track whether the district is carrying out the activities in the transition plan, such as choosing and evaluating a new superintendent, ensuring that school board members attend training sessions and submit a balanced budget. 

Transition Plan for the Return of Local Control to Newark Public Schools Interim Report2019

This report of the Comprehensive Accountability Office (CAO) concerns the final phase of the transition of the Newark Public Schools from being a state supervised school district to one with full local control.

newark
New Jersey Homeowner’s Guide to Property Taxes2018

Authored by Marc Pfieffer with NJCPA, New Jersey Realtors, and the Association of Municipal Assessors of NJ to offer Garden State residents this comprehensive guide to understanding property taxes.

property-tax-guide
Report on the New Jersey Open Government Data Thought Forum2015

Authored by Marc H. Pfeiffer, MPA. This report examines a growing public imperative — the routine disclosure of government data in New Jersey.

Managing Technology Risks Through Technological Proficiency2015

Authored by Marc H. Pfeiffer, MPA. The report on this effort suggests that becoming “technologically proficient” is a pathway that local governments (and other organizations) can use to understand and manage their technology risks.

Cost Allocation Estimates of Pension Liability for Each 1% of Payroll Contribution2015

The primary goal of this research is to provide a preliminary estimate on both a municipality and school board basis for the potential assumption of part or all current and/or previously unfunded or underfunded employer contributions to TPAF.

Size May Not be the Issue: An Analysis of the Cost of Local Government and Municipal Size in New Jersey2014

The paper addresses questions concerning the number of municipalities in New Jersey lead to higher municipal spending, and that consolidations will lead to lower costs and reduce or eliminate the high property tax.

Faculty and Staff

Raphael Caprio

Raphael Caprio

Director

Marc H. Pfeiffer

Marc H. Pfeiffer

Senior Policy Fellow and Assistant Director