Strengthening Local Fiscal Health
Local governments are essential to the nation’s prosperity—central to the quality of life, jobs, and long-term prospects of most Americans. Many cities and counties continue to face serious challenges, such as costly infrastructure needs and growing long-term liabilities.
Both state and local policymakers have a critical stake in ensuring that localities remain fiscally sound. By working together, state and local decision-makers can strengthen cities’ and counties’ long-term fiscal and economic well-being and generate opportunities for economic growth. To inform these critical conversations, Pew conducts research on the fiscal landscape of cities, best practices for proactively assessing local governments’ financial condition, and promising policy options to improve localities’ fiscal well-being.
![Tax limitations can erode local fiscal resiliency Two young boys facing back fly kites in a eroded neighborhood with construction signs, a truck, and unfinished roads](/-/media/post-launch-images/2021/08/dsc0689jpgmaster/16x9_m.jpg?la=ja&h=346&w=615&hash=D6675221D7B3161854904CC05054DBD7)
![Tax limitations can erode local fiscal resiliency Two young boys facing back fly kites in a eroded neighborhood with construction signs, a truck, and unfinished roads](/-/media/post-launch-images/2021/08/dsc0689jpgmaster/1x1_s.jpg?la=ja&h=615&w=615&hash=C1A98FAA4530E52A7E2D21FD0951525B)
Tax Limits Can Erode Local Fiscal Resiliency
![Deadwood, South Dakota Deadwood, South Dakota](/-/media/post-launch-images/2021/07/gettyimages-1125394966_toned/16x9_m.jpg?la=ja&h=346&w=615&hash=53EA353236C1FBFF95DD8B1618849E5C)
![Deadwood, South Dakota Deadwood, South Dakota](/-/media/post-launch-images/2021/07/gettyimages-1125394966_toned/1x1_s.jpg?la=ja&h=615&w=615&hash=9375603F68D0DF20B0EF431D3EBF8422)
Local Tax Limitations Can Hamper Fiscal Stability
![VioSafe lights School buses line and parked at DPS- Hilltop Terminal in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday. November 10, 2020.](/-/media/post-launch-images/2021/05/gettyimages1284968519jpgmaster/16x9_m.jpg?la=ja&h=346&w=615&hash=4B69D34A3850BBDC5425580AEF603D23)
![VioSafe lights School buses line and parked at DPS- Hilltop Terminal in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday. November 10, 2020.](/-/media/post-launch-images/2021/05/gettyimages1284968519jpgmaster/1x1_s.jpg?la=ja&h=615&w=615&hash=51A5ED8B0067867C4A8DFA4BFEB118C3)
How States Can Use Federal Stimulus Money Effectively
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![Restaurant worker cleaning Restaurant worker cleaning](/-/media/post-launch-images/2021/05/gettyimages1277696624jpgmaster/1x1_s.jpg?la=ja&h=615&w=615&hash=05CEBA1B67FB129C0FD151F6DA8FB867)