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Article: Washington, states ignoring needs of local governments: while local governments have borne much of the burden for stepped-up homeland security since 9/11, the federal and state governments have been reluctant to provide financial assistance.(Federal Focus)
- Article from:
- Government Finance Review
- Article date:
- August 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Government Finance Officers Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The fiscal plight of local governments across the United States is a tough sell in Washington these days. In the face of shrinking revenues, rising homeland security costs, and increasing demand for public assistance, one would think the case for financial assistance to local governments would be an easy one to make. In fact, many editorials and news stories over the last six months have recognized the fiscal challenges of municipalities. Yet despite the dire messages from the media and elsewhere, direct aid to local governments is about as popular as sipping hot chocolate on a sultry D.C. afternoon.
Examples of fiscal stress at the local level are abundant. ...