Public Money Pod

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.

By the 2050s, one in five U.S. counties will face compound material exposure to two or more acute climate hazards such as drought, extreme heat, wildfires, and flooding. This week, we're joined by Steve Bullock, who leads the Research and Methodology Team at S&P Global Sustainable1. He helps us break down the data and analytics being used to provide better transparency and help investors integrate climate risk into their decision-making, along with ensuring state and local governments are prepared to handle climate hazards. In Ripped from the Headlines, we discuss new rules at FEMA, including how the agency now defines a floodplain, and how this impacts the decision of where to rebuild after a flood.

We weren't able to fit everything from our conversation with Jon Mondillo (abrdn) into one episode, but we still wanted to share the rest of it! Enjoy this bonus episode, where Jon talks to us about affordable housing, charter schools, and trends in hospital systems and Continuing Care Retirement Communities.

This week, we talk to Jon Mondillo, Head of North American Fixed Income at abrdn. He tells us about taking advantage of strong demand in the marketplace, relative value and perceptions of the interest rate cycle, and the implications that the extension (or lack of extension) of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will have on municipalities and municipal issuers. In Ripped from the Headlines, we dig deeper into the multitude of scenarios that municipal bond issuers are preparing for based on the outcome of the election and its implications on the TCJA.

State and local governments are struggling to hire public finance professionals. Is this due to a shortage of qualified individuals, or something else? We talk with Heidi Voorhees, co-founder of GovHR USA and GovTempsUSA about recruiting strategies and how government agencies can incentivize professionals - from recent college grads to those working in the private sector - to work in public finance. In Ripped from the Headlines, we discuss what college graduates look for in potential employers, and how employers can make themselves competitive for applicants.