City Fiscal Conditions In 2004

Cities are responding to the deteriorating fiscal conditions in a variety of ways. The most common response has been to raise or institute new fees and charges for services.

2 minute read

October 26, 2004, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


City Fiscal Conditions in 2004 is a new report from the National League of Cities. Based upon a survey of finance directors from 288 US cities with populations greater than 10,000, this report examines city fiscal conditions; factors influencing municipal budgets; and revenue and expenditure trends.

22 charts present data on the composition of city income (federal, state, local, property tax, sales tax, income tax); the ability of small, medium and large cities to meet program and service needs; and actions cities have taken to balance their budgets.

Selected findings include:

  • Property tax represents 23% of the average city's general fund; other taxes - 36%; fees - 13%; state aid - 12%; federal aid - 2%; and other revenue - 14%.
  • Human services spending increased in 36% of the cities and decreased in 14%.
  • 54% of the cities increased their fees and charges, including 70% of the largest cities, and less than 1% of all cities reduced them.
  • Nearly 2/3's of all cities were less able to meet their financial needs in 2004 than in 2003.
  • When asked about negative impacts on city budgets, 91% cited employee health benefits; 89% - employee wages; 78% - public safety needs; 74% - infrastructure; 74% - employee benefits and 73% - prices/inflation/cost of living.

    [Editor's note: The link below is to a 1MB PDF document.]

    Thanks to Weingart Center's Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty

  • Tuesday, October 26, 2004 in National League Of Cities

    portrait of professional woman

    I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

    I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

    Mary G., Urban Planner

    Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

    Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

    Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

    A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

    July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

    Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

    Chicago’s Ghost Rails

    Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

    July 13, 2025 - WTTV

    Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

    Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

    The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

    July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

    Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

    Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

    Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

    July 18 - Inside Climate News

    Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

    MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

    MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

    July 18 - WABE

    Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

    Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

    A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

    July 17 - San José Spotlight