Public Money Pod

We talk to Dag Detter, author of The Public Wealth of Cities and advisor to governments around the world. We consider how state/local governments account for long-term assets, why he thinks current accounting rules are not up to the task, and his vision to fix it. He also lays out his argument for public wealth funds in the United States. In Ripped from the Headlines, we continue the conversation about public finance and real estate with a story about Meriden, Connecticut's plan to sell vacant public land.

We welcome Laura Allen, budget analyst with the Maryland Department of Budget and Management AND current President of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). We discuss GFOA's priorities for the year, with special emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in public finance; GFOA's research agenda; and why public money is a great career for women, among many other topics. In Ripped from the Headlines, we discuss a story about the future of government jobs with the emergence of artificial intelligence.

We continue our state treasurer series with Kansas Treasurer Steven Johnson. We discuss his office's role in distributing federal funding; his take on the Kansas "Income Tax Experiment"; the state’s philosophy on ESG investing, why Modern Portfolio Theory is alive and well in the Sunflower State; and adventures in unclaimed property. In Ripped from the Headlines, we discuss the National Association of State Budget Officers' latest edition of the Fiscal Survey of the States.

We continue our state treasurer series with Washington State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti. We discuss how his office has led the legislative effort on savings at birth (Baby Bonds) and for retirement (auto IRAs), and why savings is a rural economic development tool; his advocacy for the federal SAFE Banking Act for financial services for recreational marijuana businesses; and why he sees the anti-ESG movement as dangerous. In Ripped from the Headlines, we discuss Citi's exit from the municipal bond business.

We talk to Dawn Lang (CFO) and Riann Balch (Community Resources Manager) from the City of Chandler, AZ. They walk us through the causes and consequences of their city's rise in homelessness, the success of their Community Navigators program, how homelessness touches both the revenue and the spending side of the Activity Statement, and how they're planning for the coming fiscal cliff, among other topics. In Ripped from the Headlines, we look at an article about how Colorado has worked to create a better user experience to improve participation in their family leave program.

We talk to Louisiana Treasurer John Schroder about Louisiana's finances. He shares his views on ESG investing, how pension investing can drive economic development, and why integrity is everything in public finance. In Ripped from the Headlines, we continue the discussion about Louisiana with a story about how changes in property insurance coverage in the state is affecting public school districts finances.

We visit with Megan Kilgore, City Auditor for the City of Columbus, Ohio. She explains the challenges and opportunities of an income tax-driven municipality; the keys to timely financial reporting; transparency and timeliness in the wake of the Financial Data Transparency Act (FDTA); and the future of municipal finance, among many other topics. In Ripped from the Headlines, we discuss S&P’s warning to Santa Fe, NM following that city's chronic lateness in financial reporting.

We visit with Washoe County, Nevada CFO Abbe Yacoben. She describes the County's unique financial challenges and opportunities; its efforts to address housing affordability; why it's investing in election infrastructure; and how to build a career in financial leadership, among many other topics.. In Ripped from the Headlines, we talk about some analysis of the San Francisco-to-Seattle exodus.

We talk to Morgan Wright, a renowned expert on government tech, AI, and cybersecurity. He shares his view on tech talent in the public sector, how cities and states should think about tech infrastructure investment, and where he thinks AI can help or hurt governments. In Ripped from the Headlines, we talk about a story giving more details about a growing interest in the public sector in hiring private sector tech talent, and what that might mean for the future of tech in the public sector. 

We visit with Travis Ahern, Town Administrator of Holliston, Massachusetts. He explains the challenges and opportunities of other post-employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities, Holliston's approach to funding OPEB, how OPEB and pensions are both alike and unlike, and why "soft liabilities" matter to credit ratings, among many other topics. In Ripped from the Headlines, we talk about the State of Connecticut’s progress on pension funding and ongoing challenges with OPEB funding.