Cities 101

A public budget is a plan of expected incomes and expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year, which is a twelve-month period that may or may not correspond to the calendar year.

Revenue is the income a local government needs to pay for all of the services it provides. A revenue structure describes the many sources of income a local government receives. The major sources of revenue include taxes, other revenue sources and intergovernmental transfers…

The entire sector of municipal government debt is under $2 trillion according to Census Bureau figures from 2013.

Municipal securities are considered to be second only to Treasuries in risk level as an investment instrument.

Most state and local employee retirement systems have substantial assets to weather the economic crisis. As of September 2015, there is currently $3.56 trillion already set aside in pension trusts for current and future retirees.

The entire sector of municipal government debt is under $2 trillion according to Census Bureau figures from 2013. This debt issuance comes from all 50 states comprising over 19,000 cities and towns, 3000 counties, 15,000 school districts and untold number of special purpose entities end enterprises such as water districts or ports authorities.

The provision of elementary and secondary education is a key function of government today, but it was not among the rights afforded explicit protection under the U.S. Constitution.