An in-depth assessment of the fiscal health of cities throughout the U.S., this text examines the tools currently available to cities for designing a revenue structure, measuring fiscal condition, and measuring fiscal health. It explains how artificial policies such as tax and expenditure limitations influence fiscal policies and how communities can overcome socioeconomic and state-policy barriers to post strong fiscal conditions. It also includes a CD with forecasting techniques and calculators. This authors go beyond simple theory to use actual financial, demographic and TEL data from the newly available Government Financial Officers Association survey.