City Budgets

The City Council of Vallejo, California, approved the first city-wide Participatory Budgeting process in the US this week. Residents will directly decide how to spend around $3 million from new sales tax revenue.

April 20, 2012 - Times Herald

In order to educate its citizens on how budgeting decisions are made, and inform decision makers on the priorities of its citizens, Calgary has engaged in an ambitious outreach process to get citizens to participate in drafting the city's budget.

February 3, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

In four New York City Council districts, residents will soon be able to propose and vote on capital projects to be funded by councilmember's budgets.

September 15, 2011 - New York Times

As recession-reduced property tax levels begin to play out in cities across the U.S., municipalities are beginning to react to the realities of lowered revenues.

December 5, 2010 - Citiwire

Though private sector employment shows signs of recovery, the National League of American Cities predicts 500,000 municipal workers will lose their jobs over the current and coming fiscal years. The Economist considers solutions.

November 23, 2010 - The Economist

The mayor of Mt. Clemens, Michigan is turning to an unlikely source to help pay for stretched city services -- local non-profits. With 42% of city property tax exempt, Mayor Dempsey is asking non-profits to pay as if they were taxed.

November 22, 2010 - Detroit Free Press

Across the country, a growing number of towns, cities and other local governments are seeking refuge in havens that many states provide as alternatives to federal bankruptcy court.

October 31, 2010 - New York Times

A new report from the National League of Cities suggests urban areas will face diminished revenues through 2011 and beyond.

October 7, 2010 - National League Of Cities

The L.A. Department of City Planning is experiencing radical changes in leadership, planning process, and organizational structure. The leaders--past, present, and, future--of planning in L.A. gathered in August to discuss a vision for the future.

September 2, 2010 - The Planning Report

The economic recession is lightening up in some areas, but cities and municipalities will continue to struggle with the downturn in the economy for years, mainly because of falling property tax revenues.

July 15, 2010 - NPR

The City of Detroit has announced plans to close 77 city parks this summer in an effort to cut costs.

July 1, 2010 - The Detroit Free Press

In a Chicago Tribune op-ed, Alderman Joe Moore explains why he is letting residents decide how to spend his $1.3m ward budget, through the first Participatory Budgeting process in the US.

April 1, 2010 - Chicago Tribune

In a Chicago Tribune op-ed, Alderman Joe Moore explains why he is letting residents decide how to spend his $1.3 ward budget, through the first Participatory Budgeting process in the US.

March 31, 2010 - Chicago Tribune

Townships surrounding Philadelphia have managed to survive the recession until now, but city coffers are now going into the red and cities are being forced to take action.

October 13, 2009 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

A new report from The National League of Cities shows that declining property and sales income is impacting city coffers, resulting in layoffs and cuts to construction projects.

September 1, 2009 - The Wall St. Journal

A new HVAC system for a building in Minnesota that was expected to meet high environmental standards was going to come in at almost three times its originally estimated costs. So city officials are delaying.

August 29, 2009 - Minneapolis-St.Paul Star Tribune

As city budgets tighten, streetlights are getting the ax in an effort to save money.

August 28, 2009 - USA Today

Tight budgets are causing cities across the country to skip fireworks displays for their Fourth of July celebrations.

June 29, 2009 - Los Angeles Times