Municipal Finance

Overview

Municipal Finance

Article City Forum Tim Cromartie

Local Siting Grants Available for Corrections Re-Entry Facilities

A $25 million Community-Based Transitional Housing Program offers incentive grants for providing transitional housing sites for recently released offenders.

Article Legal Notes Robert Saxe

Court Rejects Challenges to Mello-Roos District in San Ramon

The decision is an important reminder for cities that the creation of Mello-Roos Community Facilities Districts may be a potential tool to supplement funds needed to provide services to new…

Article Executive Director's Message Carolyn Coleman

Stopping the Runaway Pension Train

Increasing pension costs could push cities already in financial distress closer to the brink of bankruptcy.

Article Features Heidi SanbornAkin BabatolaDebbie Raphael

Focusing on Safe Disposal of Sharps and Pharmaceutical Waste

Local governments’ extended producer responsibility programs offer policy models for other states.

Article Features Tia Boatman Patterson

State Launches Initiatives to Maximize Housing Resources With New ADU Financing and Other Tools

Partnerships between state agencies and cities maximize resources and move us closer to resolving California’s affordable housing challenges.

Article Features Jim Lewis

Getting the Most Value From Your City’s Technology Investment

Technology increasingly serves as the backbone for providing local services.

Article City Forum

Transportation Funding Will Begin Flowing Soon

Cities should note key deadlines and prepare now.

Claremont Crisis Intervention and Outreach Saves Trees

Concerned residents volunteered to implement a program to mitigate the drought’s impact.

Article Features Karalee Browne

California Cities Create Carbon Funds to Support Climate Action

Many local agencies are developing internal funding sources to implement energy and climate action activities.

Article Features

Local Streets and Roads Awards Highlight Best Practices

The awards program recognizes local government projects that reduce waste and costs and promote sustainability.

Article Features Ignacio Dayrit

Fight Blight in Your City With Brownfields Tools

An underused set of funding resources offers tools that cities can use for virtually any site.

Article President’s Message Joanne Mounce

How Volunteerism Enriches Communities

The small-town feeling of community that many of us experienced as youngsters has become more elusive. Volunteering gives us a sense of connectedness and offers multiple benefits.

Article Executive Director's Message Carolyn Coleman

Finding Solutions to the Affordable Housing Shortage

Significant barriers and disincentives constrain the production of housing. These include local and national economic and job market conditions, challenges for developers and a lack of funding and…

Article City Forum Eva Spiegel

Funds Coming to Help Chronically Homeless Californians With Mental Illness — Partner Now With Counties to Prepare Programming

Although the No Place Like Home program funds will not be available until 2018, the California Department of Housing and Community Development has released the Notice of Funding Availability for…

Article Features Tim Cromartie

What Cities Should Know About Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act

Changes in the law related to marijuana raise many concerns for cities.

Article Features Eva Spiegel

In Desperate Need: California’s Crumbling Streets and Roads

A recent report underscores the critical need in California to develop a transportation funding solution that will keep residents and the economy moving forward.

Article President’s Message Joanne Mounce

Local Infrastructure Conditions: A Crisis Situation

We can either pay to fix and maintain our infrastructure today or pay much more in the future to replace it.

Article City Forum Dan Carrigg

A Look at the League’s 2017 Strategic Priorities

The League is focusing on public safety, affordable housing, the homelessness crisis and funding for critical transportation and water infrastructure.

Article Features Michael Coleman

A Primer on California City Revenues, Part Two: Major City Revenues

Understanding the essentials of city finance is critical for city decision-makers. Elected officials find their job is easier when they can explain municipal finance’s basic elements to their…

Article Features Michael Coleman

A Primer on California City Revenues, Part One: Revenue Basics

Though every city is different, some essential elements of city revenues are common to cities throughout California.