On Tuesday, October 5, 2021, the National League of Cities (NLC) released a survey on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and proactive federal policy on city finances in 2021.

Dr. Christiana McFarland presented an overview of the report’s findings, followed by a panel discussion with co-author Michael A. Pagano and city budget directors Marisa Waxman (City of Philadelphia), Andrew Dudas (City of Cincinnati) and Susan Gooding-Liburd (City of Miramar, FL).

This year’s analysis of survey and fiscal data from 444 cities finds that on balance, cities ended FY 2020 with the first instance of revenue loss since the Great Recession, and budgeted further decline for FY 2021. Federal assistance has been instrumental in helping cities recover from the pandemic and contributing to a more positive economic outlook.

To view the report and dive into the data, click here.

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NLC is a strategic partner for local leaders and municipal staff, serving as a resource and advocate for communities large and small. Click the button to learn how NLC can help deliver for your city.