Financial State of the Cities 2024

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

At the end of the fiscal year 2022, 53 cities did not have enough money to pay all of their bills.

Financial State of the Cities 2023

FEBRUARY 7, 2023

This year's report highlights the volatility and risk surrounding pension plan assets and corresponding pension liabilities.

Financial State of the Cities 2022

JANUARY 25, 2022

Truth in Accounting has released its sixth annual Financial State of the Cities report.

City Combined Taxpayer Burden Report 2021

MAY 11, 2021

Truth in Accounting has released a new analysis of the 10 most populous U.S. cities that includes their largest underlying government units.

Majority of U.S. cities ill-prepared for COVID-19 pandemic

JANUARY 26, 2021

The 2021 Financial State of the Cities (FSOC) surveys the fiscal health of the 75 largest municipalities in the United States. This data is released today by Truth in Accounting (TIA), a think tank that analyzes government financial reporting.

Financial State of the Cities 2021

JANUARY 26, 2021

Our fifth annual Financial State of the Cities report. This analysis surveys the fiscal health of the 75 most populated US cities prior to the coronavirus pandemic. 

City Combined Taxpayer Burden Report 2020

MAY 12, 2020

Truth in Accounting has released a new report on the 10 largest U.S. cities. The City Combined Taxpayer Burden report analyzes the finances of each city, its county, state, and underlying government units.

Do higher home values equal more homelessness?

FEBRUARY 26, 2020 | by Madison Randolph

It's not as simple as you might think

2020 Financial State of the Cities

JANUARY 28, 2020

Our fourth annual report on the financial condition of the nation's 75 largest cities. 

San Jose responds to grand jury report on $3.4 billion in unfunded pension liabilities

SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 | SAN JOSE SPOTLIGHT (CALIFORNIA) | by Adam Hutton

Growing retirement benefits and poor investment returns are at the heart of San Jose’s ballooning pension obligations — which are projected to drain an average of $340 million a year from the general fund over the next decade — according to a Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury investigation the City Council plans to discuss at Tuesday’s meeting.

City Combined Taxpayer Burden Report 2018

JULY 17, 2018

TIA's new analysis of the 10 most populous U.S. cities and their largest local government units shows you're on the hook for more debt than you think.

Report raises disagreement over pension funding

MARCH 27, 2017 | THE BOND BUYER

By Kyle Glazier, includes "Retirement Security Initiative, an advocacy group for fairness and solvency in public sector retirement plans, is taking issue with a University of California report that argues that fully funding pensions may be a "misguided" goal. 

Hefty paychecks for police officers and firefighters

MARCH 3, 2017 | THE NEW YORK TIMES

By Mike McPhate, includes "In 2015, five San Jose police officers each made more than $400,000. A payroll error?

Retirement costs vary dramatically among states and cities

OCTOBER 17, 2016 | MARKETWATCH

By Alicia Munnell, includes “… On the other hand, five states – Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut, Hawaii, and Kentucky – face payments in excess of 25 percent of revenue …

Unfunded Public Pension Liabilities Mount, But San Jose Offers Hope

AUGUST 12, 2015 | NOOZHAWK

The situation is gravest in Illinois ...