Michael A. Pagano
Michael A. Pagano is dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago and co-editor of Urban Affairs Review.
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Urban Wonk
The Typical Municipal Budgeting Process Is Rigged Against Infrastructure Investments
There's a major structural problem built into how cities spend their money. Here's what we can do about it.
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Charts
How Our Current Tax System Is Failing Cities
Levying fees on income and property just isn't working anymore. Cities need to be able to charge people who commute in.
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How Nonprofits Can End Up Becoming a Drain on City Budgets
Municipal governments can't sit idly by while tax-exempt organizations get services for free.
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Don't Forget, Local Governments Are Facing a Fiscal Crisis of Their Own
It's not too late for President Obama to help fix this, and it's in his interest anyway.
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Charts
To Fix Municipal Finances, States Need to Back Off
Many cities are powerless when it comes to controlling the money in their coffers. Here's how to fix that.
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Charts
Why All Those New Fees Your City Is Charging Are Likely Permanent
Cash-strapped local governments overwhelmingly turned to fees instead of raising taxes in recent years. And they like them.
