ATD Blog
Wed Aug 01 2012
_**
The Municipal Budget Crunch
**_Edited by Roger L. Kemp
McFarland
May 2012
Many public officials have great ideas, but tend to work in a vacuum, so they don’t know what other cities are doing. The Municipal Budget Crunch, a new release compiled by Roger L. Kemp, Ph.D., offers an inside look at programs working municipalities across the nation.
Based on a national literature search, the book focuses on the best practices of cities, of all sizes and geographic locations, intended to maintain public services while holding down taxes. Broken into three sections, this book codifies knowledge in this new field for the first time. Part1 includes chapters on
Balancing Budgets with Job and Service Reductions
Prudent Options for Balancing City Budgets
Saving Money by Contracting for Public Services
Innovative Staffing Options Help Balance Budgets
Evaluating the Results of Staffing Decisions Beforehand
Options to Ensure Fiscal Health During Tough Times
Strategies to Ensure Long-Term Fiscal Health
Financial Measures to Restore America’s Infrastructure.
Part II includes 40 best practice case studies for various cities throughout the United States. Every case study included has the city’s website listed for additional reference. For example:
Chicago Uses Citizen Input to Make Budget Decisions
Cincinnati and Other Cities Improve Public Trust in Government
Las Vegas and Other Cities Reassess Their Basic Services
Lewiston and Other Cities Consider Property Tax Relief for Senior Citizens
New York Provides Special Services to Low-Income Citizens
Philadelphia and Other Cities Reconsider Their Contract Services
Portland Uses a New Financial Management Assessment Process.
Part III is focused on the future. A sampling of chapters review:
City Revenues, Budgets and the Future
Financial Constraints and New Service Opportunities
Redefining the Quality of Life in Your Community
The Condition of America’s Infrastructure.
This reference work makes it easy for professionals seeking additional information on any and all budget reduction methods that seem to work somewhere.
**About the Editor
**
Roger L. Kemp has been a city manager of west and east coast cities for more than 25 years and holds International City/County Management Association credentials. A graduate of the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University, he has been a visiting scholar and adjunct professor at the University of California, Rutgers University, and the University of Connecticut.
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