Local Government

Cities Cannot Budget Their Way Out of Mission Problems

Cities Cannot Budget Their Way Out of Mission Problems

California cities continue to struggle with recurring fiscal stress. Los Angeles recently closed a budget gap approaching $1 billion. San Jose addressed a shortfall of roughly $50 million while acknowledging that structural challenges remain. Oakland reopened its two-year budget to address a gap of roughly $265 million while continuing to wrestle with insolvency concerns. Across...

By Mark Moses

When City Councils Play Secretary of State

When City Councils Play Secretary of State

In the years since the National Civic League published “Is It None of Our Business?,” the trend of city halls tackling national issues has shifted from a novelty to a standard operating model. The League’s 2023 analysis argued that local agencies should embrace a broader national agenda—a shift they championed as a positive phenomenon. However, from...

By Mark Moses