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liz-farmer

Liz Farmer

Liz Farmer, who formerly covered fiscal policy as a Governing staff writer, helps lead the Pew Charitable Trusts’ state fiscal health project’s Fiscal 50 online resource, focusing on budgets, fiscal distress, tax policy and pensions. A former research fellow at the Rockefeller Institute of Government’s Future of Labor Research Center, Farmer holds a bachelor’s degree in American history, film and television production from George Washington University and a master’s in journalism from the University of Maryland.

Over the last century, states have adopted the idea that pensions are a form of deferred compensation and, along with that change, has come certain protections.
After years of declining revenue, the money began slowly tricking back in for states and localities in 2013. But there still was still a huge mess left to clean up.
Public finance looks to be more stable than in previous years, but stable doesn't mean easy.
States with no income tax could see reduced consumer spending in 2014 if a federal tax deduction is allowed to expire.
One provision of the finalized Volcker Rule could cause headaches for states and localities that issue bonds.
A dispute this fall between the city of Bakersfield and Kern County in California over animal shelter costs shows just how inter-local agreements can easily fall apart without proper nurturing.
With every municipal bankruptcy, there usually comes the chorus of warnings that more cities will join.
If passed, the two-year budget deal would shift planned spending cuts and alleviate some of the funding uncertainties that have plagued state and local governments.
As the virtual currency climbs in popularity and value, state regulators would be wise to start figuring out a way to make it safe and user-friendly in their borders, experts say.
Illinois’ status as the lowest-rated U.S. state won’t necessarily improve now that lawmakers have passed a measure to overhaul the state’s underfunded pensions.