The Challenges and Implications of Fiscal Health

The condition of a local government's fiscal health presents challenges to those working for the government, but also to those who rely upon the goods and services that it provides. Significant attention is has been paid to improving our understanding of fiscal health to improve the decision-making process of administrators. Unfortunately, little consensus has emerged concerning how it is defined and how it is measured. How we view the defining terms and resulting measurement, however, has differing legal implications related to a government's bankruptcy or the imposition of an emergency manager by the state. Our understanding of fiscal health can also affect the recognition of a government's liability. This article seeks to bring some understanding to the fiscal health of local governments. This is accomplished by defining fiscal health, providing an overview of how the health is measured, and discussing the legal implications that emerge as a result