Municipal Responses to Fiscal Stress

This study examines officials' reactions to the fiscal constraints facing Wisconsin municipalities in 2004. Using survey response data coupled secondary demographic and financial data, our findings reflect a substantial amount of continuity when compared to earlier published works. Wisconsin municipal officials support a series of revenue and expenditure strategies depending on the level of stress facing the community. Surprisingly, we find no statistical relationship between officials' perceptions of fiscal stress and empirical measures of fiscal stress. Our study also demonstrates that the existence of professional administration influences the types of response strategies pursued by municipalities.