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100			_aKim, Yunji _944630
245			_aLimits of fiscal federalism: How narratives of local government inefficiency facilitate scalar dumping in New York State
260			_bSage, _c2019.
300			_aVol 51, Issue 3, 2019,(636-653 p.)
520			_aUS local governments are responsible for a variety of services, based on the assumptions of fiscal federalism that local governments can deliver residents the services they want at the lowest cost. However, an austerity narrative that calls for shrinking public budgets emerged after the 2008 global financial crisis and higher levels of government are dumping fiscal stress down to the local level in a process of “scalar dumping.” How do local governments respond to these austerity pressures and why do we see weak pushback from local governments? Focus groups with local government officials across New York State show local responses are constrained by the combination of a state-level limit on local property taxes and a narrative of local government inefficiency. Although local governments have the legal authority to raise revenues, they are reluctant to use this authority due to political pressure from the state and voters. These pressures encourage local governments to maintain services without adequate revenues. Pushback is weak as local governments lack institutional power in a state-based federal system and the heterogeneity among local governments makes collective action difficult. Fiscal federalism promises efficiency and effectiveness in a decentralized governance system, but has limited ability to counter “scalar dumping” that erodes fiscal sustainability. More balance of power in state–local relationships and a narrative that better connects local taxes and services are necessary.
650			_aLocal governments, _944631
650			_a fiscal federalism, _934280
650			_ascalar dumping, _944632
650			_anarratives, _944633
650			_aausterity, _942243
650			_aGreat Recession _944634
773	0		_011325 _915507 _dSage, 2019. _tEnvironmental and planning A: Economy and space
856			_uhttps://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X18796511
942			_2ddc _cART