Over 20 communities have used the Finance Decoder to turn dense spreadsheets into clear direction—proving that financial transparency doesn’t have to be dull.

Top StoryStrong TownsMay 30, 2025Finance Decoder, financial solvency, ohio, utah, transparent local accounting

This California City is Doing the Math

Thanks to a new tool, a local group in Artesia is highlighting that true resilience lies in lasting stability, not just getting by in the moment.

Top StoryStrong TownsMay 6, 2025financial solvency, taxes, Finance Decoder, california, resource

The Opposite of Strong Isn’t Weak. It’s Dependent.

Fragile cities are overextended, under-resourced, and deeply dependent on decisions made far away. Here’s what that looks like.

Marohn, Top Story, Finance Decoder SeriesCharles MarohnApril 21, 2025transparent local accounting, Finance Decoder, fragility, finance, new york, utah

This Canadian City is Taking a Hard Look at its Finances

Calgary is transparent about it’s finances. Now it’s time to uncover where value is being created—and where resources are being drained.

Top StoryAsia MieleszkoApril 16, 2025Finance Decoder, financial solvency, public finance, canada, Strongest Town 2025

Cities Are Already Defaulting on Their Debts

Cities slide into insolvency not with a dramatic collapse, but with a slow, steady drift into financial fragility.

Marohn, Top Story, Finance Decoder SeriesCharles MarohnApril 14, 2025Finance Decoder, transparent local accounting, municipal finance, debt, suburban experiment, city government

Cities Are Not Nations: The Hard Budget Reality of Brainerd, Minnesota

Despite assertions to the contrary, a city's budget is almost exactly like a family budget.

Marohn, Top Story, Finance Decoder SeriesCharles MarohnApril 7, 2025transparent local accounting, Finance Decoder, minnesota, debt, finance

Two Views, One Budget: Why Houston’s Financial Story Isn’t as Simple as It Looks

Houston’s new Popular Annual Financial Report tells a reassuring story of short-term growth and recovery, but it ignores the city's long-term financial trends. If things are going to improve, public officials need to confront reality.

Top StoryCharles MarohnApril 3, 2025texas, transparent local accounting, municipal finance, debt, financial solvency, Finance Decoder

The Growth Ponzi Scheme Revisited: Houston as a Case Study

Cities across North America are financially imploding—not because of a lack of growth, but because of the pattern of growth itself. Few cities illustrate this pattern as vividly as Houston, Texas.