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

Read the full story: City Fiscal Conditions in 2004

Tuesday, October 26, 2004 in National League Of Cities

Government / Politics United States

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 and Environmental 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 and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

Start Learning

Advertise with us

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.