https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Smart Cities & Technology


Article

NLC Report: City finances are getting stronger

NLC Report: City finances are getting stronger

In its 31st annual City Fiscal Conditions report, National League of Cities (NLC) finds that fiscal conditions of U.S. cities are strengthening.
  • Written by mikekeat
  • 14th October 2016

In its 31st annual City Fiscal Conditions report, the National League of Cities (NLC) finds that fiscal conditions of U.S. cities are getting stronger. This improvement is taking place after a slow recovery from the Great Recession. This conclusion is based on a national survey of city finance officers. Improvements in the value of the tax base and better-than-anticipated revenue growth is driving the more robust fiscal health in 2016, according to the report.

These improvements are allowing cities to reinvest in city services, namely public safety, and to make greater investments in infrastructure. Although cities are better able to meet the day-to-day fiscal needs of their communities, revenues have not yet reached pre-recession levels and city budgets continue to confront mounting challenges.

“Long-term budget concerns like pensions and infrastructure are on the minds of city leaders,” says NLC president Melodee Colbert-Kean, councilmember, Joplin, Mo. “For now, city fiscal conditions are showing signs of vitality, with local leaders using tax dollars to reinvest in areas critical to communities.” Some highlights from the report:

–General Fund revenues grew 3.73 percent in 2015, and are budgeted to grow 0.54 percent as cities close the books on 2016. Expenditures grew 3.57 percent in 2015 and are budgeted to increase 3.71 percent in 2016.

–Property tax revenue growth is returning to pre-recession levels, with a sizable increase of 3.77 percent in 2015 and anticipated growth of 2.6 percent in 2016.

–Sales tax revenues are continuing to post strong growth, with 5.49 percent in 2015 and 1.99 percent expected in 2016.

–Despite post-recession volatility, income tax revenues grew 5.82 percent in 2015 and are expected to grow 3.47 percent in 2016.

–Ending balances are returning to pre-recession highs, standing at 24.48 percent of General Fund expenditures in 2015 and budgeted for 21.67 percent of expenditures in 2016.

“The uncertainty in the economy will continue to test city fiscal conditions,” said NLC’s Research Director Christiana McFarland. “But this year’s survey paints a fuller picture of how our nation’s cities have repositioned themselves and their fiscal health in recent years.”

Go here for details.

GPN will post its 2017 Keating Report forecast on government budgets and spending in the near future at the GPN site. Go here for the first part of the mid-year 2016 Keating Report.

_____________

To get connected and stay up-to-date with similar content from American City & County:
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on Youtube

Tags: Administration Economy Procurement Smart Cities & Technology Article

Most Recent


  • Report: Almost half of public sector retirees don't touch their retirement plans for a decade
    Once retired, nearly half of public sector employees aren’t taking any action with their defined contribution retirement plan funds for at least a decade, according to research from Mission Square Research Institute, which included the analysis of more than 100,000 public service data records. In their first ten years of retirement, researchers found that 48 […]
  • budget
    Four steps to ensure your budget prioritizes equity
    When you think of municipal budgets, the first thing that comes to mind is likely numbers. Many rows and many columns of numbers. But veteran municipal leaders know that successful budgets are about far more than numbers—they’re about quality of life and opportunities for every person in a community. For this reason, the budget process […]
  • Impact investing merges making money with making a social impact
    As cities and counties move to address the diverse social problems faced by constituents in their communities, one long-standing and nearly universal hurdle stands in their way: financing. Governments are traditionally funded by taxation, which presents a challenge, especially for low-income communities. This makes it so either outside investment from the federal or state governments, […]
  • Amazon Business
    Amazon Business caters to the public sector with technology-driven features and benefits
    No question, the public sector relies on Amazon Business as a key supplier. “Yes, local governments are good customer prospects for Amazon offerings,” says Mike Kernish, director and general manager, public sector at Amazon Business. He offers this statistic: “Amazon Business currently works with over 90 of the top 100 most populous local governments and […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • What “smart city” means for 2021: How digital twins, AI and other innovations drive smart transformation
  • 10 reasons why local governments should outsource all IT: Post pandemic view
  • MS-ISAC members get free access to Deloitte’s Cyber Detect and Respond Portal to help respond to cyber threats
  • North Texas alliance partners with Marketplace.city on smart government solutions

White papers


The PIO’s Ultimate Guide to Social Media

16th May 2022

Gain Greater Visibility Into Your Public Works Fleet

16th May 2022

Arizona Arts Center Meets Rapid Deadline with Hundreds of Thousands in Savings

26th April 2022
view all

Events


PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

Report: Nearly 95 percent of America’s mayors face harassment, threats and violence dlvr.it/SQTn2z

16th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

The PIO’s Ultimate Guide to Social Media dlvr.it/SQTdCK

16th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Gain Greater Visibility Into Your Public Works Fleet dlvr.it/SQSqXG

16th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Report: Almost half of public sector retirees don’t touch their retirement plans for a decade dlvr.it/SQKMjp

13th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Four steps to ensure your budget prioritizes equity dlvr.it/SQJgZz

13th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Victims of Surfside condo collapse settle for nearly $1B in class action lawsuit dlvr.it/SQJffb

13th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Impact investing merges making money with making a social impact dlvr.it/SQGBgv

12th May 2022
AmerCityCounty

Amazon Business caters to the public sector with technology-driven features and benefits dlvr.it/SQF2Gm

12th May 2022

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2022 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X