Report: Cities Continue Modest Fiscal Improvements

The 30th edition of an annual report from the National League of Cities shows reasons to be optimistic about the fiscal condition of cities—though the arm of the Great Recession is proving to be long.

1 minute read

October 1, 2015, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


The National League of Cities this week announced their annual report on the fiscal health of cities, finding that city fiscal conditions are stabilizing, though effects of the recession are still being felt.

A post announcing the release of the report shares multiple infographics that provide a snapshot of the findings included in the report. The following factoids are included among those infographics:

  • 82 percent of city finance officers are optimistic about meeting fiscal needs.
  • Ending balances have reached pre-recession levels.
  • Revenues have grown for three consecutive years.

On the recession that won't quite quit side of the occasion, the report also finds that the "current revenue base is only 91.6 percent of the 2006 base."

It's also worth noting that this year's report includes a comparative analysis of fiscal impacts resulting from the 1990, 2001, and 2007 recessions in addition to the analysis of this year's fiscal conditions.

For comparison's sake, the headline from the 2014 report also noted that lack of a full recovery from the recession.

Wednesday, September 30, 2015 in National League Of Cities

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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.

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