Public Money Pod

Center for Municipal Finance
  • 4.6 (18)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Public Money Pod

Each year state and local governments spend $4 trillion dollars. Where does that money come from? Where does it go? Who manages it? And what do citizens and taxpayers have to show for it? In this podcast we explore the budgets, bonds, and bureaucrats at the heart of state and local public finance. The Public Money Pod is a production of the University of Chicago's Center for Municipal Finance. It is co-hosted by Liz Farmer and Justin Marlowe.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Fiscal Distress in Local Government, with Vijay Kapoor

    We're joined this week by Vijay Kapoor, Chief of Staff to the Receiver for the City of Chester, Pennsylvania. He talked to us about his background working with municipalities facing fiscal distress, and how his staff is taking a comprehensive approach to receivership in Chester, especially with their efforts to monetize the Chester Water Authority while still keeping it in the hands of the public. In Ripped from the Headlines, we delve into a piece from our very own Liz Farmer (Long Story Short), where we discuss the pros and cons of privatizing a water utility, including the role of Fair Market Value (FMV) legislation.

    50 min

  2. NOV 11

    Continuous Improvement in City Government, with Mayor Christina Muryn

    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.

    54 min

  3. OCT 21

    Emergency Management and Local Resiliency, with Steve Hagerty

    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.

    1h 4m

  4. OCT 14

    Financial Leadership in the Last Frontier, with Angie Flick

    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.

    51 min

  5. OCT 7

    Strategic Planning in Local Government, with Abhi Nemani

    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.

    56 min

  6. SEP 30

    Public Finance among Tribal Nations, with Casey Lozar

    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.

    52 min

  7. SEP 23

    Redesigning the Work Week, with Scott Vargo

    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.

    50 min

  8. SEP 16

    Targeted Improvement in Financial Reporting, with Joel Black

    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.

    53 min
See All (93)

4.6
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Each year state and local governments spend $4 trillion dollars. Where does that money come from? Where does it go? Who manages it? And what do citizens and taxpayers have to show for it? In this podcast we explore the budgets, bonds, and bureaucrats at the heart of state and local public finance. The Public Money Pod is a production of the University of Chicago's Center for Municipal Finance. It is co-hosted by Liz Farmer and Justin Marlowe.

Information

  • Creator
    Center for Municipal Finance
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2024
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 Center for Municipal Finance
  • Show Website
    Public Money Pod

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada