Public Money Pod

This week, we talk to Findlay, Ohio Mayor Christina Muryn, who has established herself as a "continuous improvement mayor" through the time, effort, and capital she has dedicated to improving operations. We wanted to get some insight into what has been successful for her city, and why a mid-sized city such as Findlay is a great place to implement and make adjustments to a continuous improvement strategy. In Ripped from the Headlines, we discuss a recently signed Capital Infrastructure Plan in Los Angeles which will overhaul how city departments plan and deliver infrastructure projects as the city prepares to host both the World Cup and the Olympics.

In the past month, the southeastern United States has been hit by two highly destructive storms: Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. This week, we sat down with a true expert in emergency management, Steve Hagerty, Founder and President of Hagerty Consulting, to tell us about the role of public finance in disaster preparedness and emergency management in the aftermath of disasters. With significant experience in disaster response stretching back to the immediate aftermath of 9/11, Steve tells us about the many different programs and funds that state and local governments can (and should) utilize to prepare for and respond to disasters, and how these programs - along with strong emergency management and effective relationship-building - all lead to greater community resiliency in the wake of these events. In Ripped from the Headlines, we take a closer look at zoning, building codes, and policy strategy in Florida which, despite high climate risks, still experiences some of the fastest population growth in the United States.

Few localities in the United States must consider glacial outburst flooding when strategizing about natural hazard mitigation, and fewer still have no roads into or out of their city. But such distinct features are a part of the everyday public finance landscape for our first-ever guest from the Last Frontier, Dr. Angie Flick, Director of Finance for the City and Borough of Juneau, Alaska. She joins us this week to discuss the unique characteristics of public finance in Juneau, natural disaster response coordination among federal agencies and private citizens alike, cruise ship tourism, and more. In Ripped from the Headlines, we discuss the steps Juneau has taken toward flood prevention on the heels of record flooding, and the challenging positions local governments are often placed in when it comes to mitigating natural disasters and financing climate adaptation.

This week, we talk to Abhi Nemani, Senior Vice President of Product Strategy at Euna Solutions. He tells us about the role technology can play in helping local governments better connect their priorities to the budgeting process, addressing human capital challenges in the public sector, and how the private sector can help scale innovation in local government. In Ripped from the Headlines, we turn to Sarasota County, Fla. as a case study for how local governments can leverage tax incentives, rebates, and grant programs to bolster their climate change mitigation efforts and meet their long-term climate goals.

This week, we're joined by Casey Lozar, Vice President at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and Director of the Center for Indian Country Development. He tells us about the policy work he has done to ensure that Tribal Nations are not overlooked in public finance, and how the Survey of Native Nations addresses some of the challenges inherent in meaningful data collection. In Ripped from the Headlines, we discuss the impact of recent federal funding to address energy needs among Tribal Nations.

We've heard before about rethinking the 40-hour work week, but what effects could a redesigned work week have on productivity, morale, and public safety? Join us this week in our conversation with Scott Vargo, City Manager of Golden, Colorado, as he tells us about how his city piloted a compressed work week for its police department and the outcomes they observed. In Ripped from the Headlines, we look at how the Manatee County (Florida) Sheriff's Office addressed a sharp staffing shortage by auditing their departmental employee evaluation and engagement practices.

This week we're joined by Joel Black, chair of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). He talks to us about the GASB and the important work it does for state and local governments. We also discuss recent research at the GASB, areas for improvement in financial reporting, and what we can expect from the GASB in the future. In Ripped from the Headlines, we examine why a high percentage of large government IT projects aren't successfully implemented, and the landscape of "intangible assets" in modern government.

Local government may not be synonymous with "blockchain technology," but our guest this week, Eric Mason, CFO of Quincy, Mass., shows us just how useful Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) can be for local municipal finance. He shares with us the benefits he has seen in his city from this technology, and why this proactive government innovation has fostered greater efficiency and equity, allowing people to invest in their own community. In Ripped from the Headlines, we look at some more examples of how state and local governments have used blockchain technology to build trust and create more positive experiences for their constituents.

We're joined this week by Victoria Yarbrough, who serves as Assistant City Manager for Sierra Vista, AZ. She talks to us about how her city has leveraged tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act to invest in economic development, including capitalizing on Sierra Vista's unique "high desert" climate to nurture a thriving sports tourism industry. In Ripped from the Headlines, we discuss a piece that explains why equity evaluation is key to new municipal clean energy programs.

In the latest installment of our state treasurer series, we speak with Utah Treasurer Marlo Oaks. He talks to us about why he made the jump from investment banker to the state treasurer's office, financial education programs for Utah students, and of course, some fascinating unclaimed property stories! In Ripped from the Headlines, we break down a story about the Climate Revolution Action Network in New Jersey protesting ties between the state's public pension fund and the fossil fuel industry.