DALLAS EXPRESS PODCAST - SEPTEMBER 15, 2024

"Mark Moses, Former Municipal Finance Director, explains how philosophy plays into local government saying while cities don’t think about what they are or why they exist, these questions can inform the goals that are adopted. He says not asking these philosophical questions can be at the root of city administrative and financial problems that lead to perpetual scarcity."

At 49:35 of his podcast, Will Swaim talks with me about why city officials feel threatened by a taxpayer protection measure on the 2024 California ballot. 

Dominic Pino of the National Review Institute talks with me about how vague, unbounded municipal missions give rise to the chronic management and budgeting problems we observe in local government.

Will Swaim talks with me about a new phenomenon: Zombie Cities. I discuss why cities are unprepared for the full effects of inflation and what city officials should do.

"Cities across the United States are in a persistent financial crisis because their governments are unable or unwilling to define who and what they are. In fact, many cities’ finances are so poor that they’re going bankrupt. The fundamental problem is that city governments attempt a scope of service provision that is impossible to deliver on."

Michael Schaus of the Nevada Policy Research Institute talks with me about the financial crisis emerging at the local government level. 

Caleb Brown talks with me about the challenges that municipalities face in identifying and sustaining manageable missions. 

Will Swaim talks with me about the financial condition of cities. I describe the factors that have allowed cities to stay afloat financially and what to expect as those conditions change.

Greg Owens interviews me about why cities are slow to update their financial systems and constantly face financial turmoil. I also discuss the dangers of scope creep and what is needed to refocus the management of our cities.