National report on city fiscal conditions

A new report  from the National League of Cities  that can only be termed as "no surprise" finds that the ability of cities across the country to meet their financial needs will only worsen through 2010 and beyond.  Raising a red flag for cities and for policy makers, report co-author, Michael A. Pagano, professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, cautions that: “Cities face the burden of confronting the effects of the downturn for years after any recession ends. This means that cities will be navigating the implications of the downturn for awhile longer, even if the business climate turns around immediately.”  Much like the League and our members have been doing for the past few years, the report, "City Fiscal Conditions in 2009" calls for a greater coordination of effort among local, state and federal governments in responding to these challenges.