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States have a pivotal interest in the fiscal health of their localities so that they can continue providing vital services to their citizens. Local government budgets have begun to feel the impacts of the recession, which probably will continue for some time. By implementing and improving early warning systems, states can proactively identify fiscal weaknesses and provide assistance to their local governments when necessary, potentially helping them avoid fiscal disaster.
The Great Recession of 2007-09 challenged the budgets of many local governments, eroding their ability to provide services such as water, sewer, and road upkeep to residents. This incentivized states to adopt or strengthen fiscal monitoring systems, which can identify financial instability before it becomes a crisis.
Posted January 27th, 2021 for Mott Land Bank crews clean and mow vacant properties in the city of Flint. Crews mow all publicly and privately owned unmaintained vacant properties in the city at least once during the growing season. Photo: Renee Harvey, Genesee County Land Bank Flint, Michigan The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has granted $76,680 to the Genesee County Land Bank to help update and strengthen Flint’s blight elimination plan and coordinate efforts to fight blight throughout the city. The Land Bank will partner with the Flint Police Foundation on the initiative. Natalie Pruett, executive director of the Flint Police Foundation, said the organizations’ efforts will build upon a five-year blight elimination framework that was completed in 2014 and adopted in 2015.