[OpenSpending] Spending story: US city bankruptcies

[Rufus Pollock]

Hi All,

I've recently been digging into US city finances (especially in
California) following the recent bankruptcy of several cities. I've
started on a timeline (source spreadsheet [1]):

<http://timeliner.reclinejs.com/?backend=gdocs&url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccckey=0Aon3JiuouxLUdDQ3QlJhOHJnS2x0NkxibUp1YnYwR1E%23gid=0#explorer>

[1]: <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aon3JiuouxLUdDQ3QlJhOHJnS2x0NkxibUp1YnYwR1E#gid=0>

I've started collecting notes and links in this accompanying
"research" post (in progress!) (Note the hack embed of the timeline!
Better embedding coming soon):

<http://notebook.okfn.org/2012/08/05/spending-story-california-city-bankruptcies/>

One quote for me stands out (this is regarding the city of Stockton
(the largest city in the US since Cleveland in 1979 to file for
Bankruptcy):

<quote>
Since FY08-09, the City has been forced through lack of funds to
reduce sworn General Fund Police staffing by 25%, Fire staffing by 30%
and all other staffing by 43%. Programs and services have been reduced
to minimum – or below minimum – levels. Sworn Police staffing per
1,000 residents has dropped from a high of 1.52 per 1,000 residents in
2005 to 1.16 currently, and in the face of a rising local crime rate.
While violent crime rates dropped 5.5% nationwide in 2010, they were
up in Stockton, which ranked 10th in the U.S. with 13.81 violent
crimes per 1,000 residents.
</quote>

Collaboration and suggestions warmly welcome!

Regards,

Rufus