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Frank Shafroth

Columnist

Frank Shafroth is the director of the Center for State and Local Leadership at George Mason University, where he is also an assistant professor, and is an adjunct professor in the Graduate School of Public Policy at George Washington University. He has served as the director of federal policy and intergovernmental relations for the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, was chief of staff for U.S. Rep. James Moran, was director of policy and federal relations for both the National Governors Association and the National League of Cities, and was assistant counsel for the U.S. Senate Banking Committee. He is a regular columnist for State Tax Notes and an attorney. He is currently heading a project for the MacArthur Foundation on the topic of severe municipal fiscal stress.

A state law meant to hold municipalities accountable for pension payments may actually worsen a coming fiscal crisis.
Demographic trends suggest trouble ahead for government revenues.
We're in a new era of digital extortion. We need to do a lot more to block and mitigate attacks like the one that crippled Atlanta.
The cost of post-retirement benefits is threatening governments’ ability to provide vital services.
Local governments. But they’re not just doing it for the money.
Hurricanes can hurt property taxes long before any water damage is done.
Local governments are no longer as willing to take on the risky business of building a ballpark.
The decline of malls in America can mean lost jobs and lower tax revenues for states and municipalities -- but not always.
Changes are likely on the way, and they could damage budgets.
They would be mostly -- but not all -- good for state and local revenues.