Finance
Below are recent studies, reports, magazine articles, and other resources that MRSC has collected regarding local government finance issues.
All links go to external websites. Please note that these links were valid at the time of their original posting, but because websites and addresses may change, we cannot guarantee that all links still work.
Addicted to Fines (September 23, 2019)
Small towns in much of the country are dangerously dependent on punitive fines and fees. More from Governing.
How Participatory Budgeting Can Help Cities Modernize Services (September 12, 2019)
Participatory budgeting and community engagement are advancing municipal operations by getting digital technologies purchased. More from EfficientGov.
What Crisis? The Case for Not Panicking Over Pension Debt. (July 25, 2019)
New research released this week shows that even pension plans with big unfunded liabilities are likely to survive in the long term. More from Governing.
Giving Local Voters a Say in Tax Policy (July 24, 2019)
When revenues can't cover essential services, public officials would do well to engage residents in a dialogue about what's important to them. More from Governing.
How 3 Innovative Cities Make Budgets Easy (July 11, 2019)
Implementing principles of transparency, participation, and collaboration around a government’s budget offers great return on investment. More from ICMA Blog.
ICMA Podcast: How to Best Your Budget (June 27, 2019)
Budget season can be intimidating. ICMA members share stories of personal resilience while maneuvering the budgeting process. More from ICMA.
A Year After Online Sales Tax Ruling, Are States Reaping More Revenues? (June 24, 2019)
Almost every state has jumped at the opportunity to tax online purchases. More from Governing.
WA Cities Will Get 'Free Money' From the State for Affordable Housing (June 3, 2019)
A new fund will let cities and counties keep $51 million in sales tax revenue for low-income housing construction and maintenance. More from Crosscut.
Financially Stable Capital Planning (April 29, 2019)
To make its budget sustainable, a local government needs to take a long-term view. This is especially true for capital investment. More from Government Finance Review.
Rural Counties Face Challenges and High Stakes in 2020 Census (March 19, 2019)
With nearly $900 billion in annual federal funding at stake, an accurate census is crucial to any county. More from NACo's County News.
FCC Could Slash County Franchise Fees (November 15, 2018)
Counties would stand to lose millions of dollars if cable TV franchise fees are cut under a deregulation proposal being considered by the FCC. More from NACo's County News.
We Interrupt This Budget (October 10, 2018)
If your county’s annual budget process reminds you of watching reruns of “Gilligan’s Island” — a bunch of smart people stuck on the same pile of sand who just keep missing the boat — maybe it’s time to change the channel. More from NACo's County News.