Public Money Pod

Hosted by Center for Municipal Finance

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Episodes

145

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Each year state and local governments spend $4 trillion dollars. Where does that money come from? Where does it go? Who manages it? And what do citizens and taxpayers have to show for it? In this podcast we explore the budgets, bonds, and bureaucrats at the heart of state and local public finance. The Public Money Pod is a production of the University of Chicago's Center for Municipal Finance. It is co-hosted by Liz Farmer and Justin Marlowe.

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60 recent

October 12, 202640 min

110-Degree Classrooms: How Building Maintenance Shapes Student Outcomes, with Jackie Nowicki

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Jackie Nowicki, Director in the Education, Workforce, and Income Security team at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, to discuss GAO’s new report on school facilities. We discuss the scale of chronic building problems, the role of deferred maintenance and rising construction costs, and why district capacity and community engagement matter as much as funding.

September 21, 202649 min

Authentic citizen engagement in local budgeting with Joe Snyder

This week, we're joined by Joe Snyder, CFO of Rochester Hills, Michigan, to talk about what happens when citizen engagement moves from less frequent public hearings to a year-round digital portal. We discuss the city's AI budget assistant, hearing from the "silent majority" instead of the vocal few, and how resident feedback shaped the FY2027 budget.

September 14, 202651 min

"means ought to be proportioned" - Rethinking state budgeting with Wendy Edelberg

In our second episode of the season, we sit down with Wendy Edelberg to discuss what states can do about affordability, why long-term fiscal notes and sunset provisions deserve more attention, and unpacking the national debt topping $40 trillion and why that headline number isn't the one that matters most for the economy.

September 7, 202646 min

From Andrew Carnegie to your Property Taxes with Noah Baskett and Tyler Bahr

In our Season 5 premiere, we sit down with Noah Baskett, CEO, and Tyler Bahr, CFO of the Salt Lake City Public Library, breaking down some misconceptions around how public libraries are funded through property taxes, the expensive cost of digital materials, and the important role philanthropy plays in paying for new branches.

August 17, 202645 min

Demystifying Governmental Accounting, with Dean Mead

In this special summer break episode, we're live from the GFOA conference in Chicago with Dean Mead, Partner and Government & Public Sector Sub-Line Leader at Carr, Riggs & Ingram (CRI). Drawing on 25 years at the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, Dean walks us through what people most often misunderstand about governmental accounting, who actually reads and uses financial statements, and whether GAAP compliance is too heavy a lift for the tens of thousands of very small governments across the country. We also discuss the real cost of cash-basis reporting and what made some GASB standards so hard to implement.

August 10, 202631 min

Season 4 Retrospective

As we wrap up season 4, we look back at some of the themes that dominated the season. These key themes include federal funding cuts, increased fiscal restraints on local government, disaster funding shifts, property taxes, and the "next big thing": data centers and Advanced Air Mobility.

July 6, 202649 min

Big Economic Opportunities in smaller regions with Lavera Alexander

In the Season 4 finale, we sit down with Lavera Alexander, Chief Growth Officer at Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, to explore what it takes to bring large-scale development projects to smaller and rural communities. We discuss the role of public and private financing, the challenges of funding aviation infrastructure, and how thoughtful investment can drive economic growth while improving residents' quality of life. Tune in for an insightful conversation on building stronger communities through strategic development and sustainable financing.

June 15, 202655 min

The Future of Property Tax Collections? With Adam J. Cohen

In this week's episode we discuss the means and tools available to municipalities to collect property taxes owed and the case of Pung v. Isabella County with our guest Adam J. Cohen, chair of the Municipal Law and Community Associations section at Pullman & Comley. Oral arguments were heard before the U.S. Supreme Court in February 2026, but a decision has yet to be handed down. The outcome is expected to have significant implications for property tax foreclosure law nationwide.

June 1, 202651 min

Local Government Trust and Auditing with Mark Funkhouser

Mark Funkhouser spent decades in government service, first as a municipal auditor, then as Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri and he discusses how the role of local governments has changed and who they really serve. Now leading Funkhouser & Associates, he brings that experience to bear on local government accountability, the rise of private equity in essential services, and what monopoly control means for the communities that have no choice but to pay up.

May 18, 202658 min

From Federal to Local: Reimagining Public Sector Careers with Caitlin Lewis

This week, we sit down with Caitlin Lewis, Founding Executive Director of Work for America, to explore the shifting landscape of public sector employment. We discuss how her organization is helping workers navigate the transition from federal to local government amid ongoing federal restructuring, what it takes to fix a hiring process that too often drives talented people away, and why working in government deserves a serious rebrand. Caitlin also shares her thinking on how to inspire the next generation to see public service as a meaningful and exciting career path.