ASTA | Finance Decoder May 28, 2025

This resource page is designed to support participants who are working through the Strong Towns Financial Decoder, exploring local budget transparency, and examining municipal fiscal health. 

🔧 Tools & Downloads

1. Financial Decoder Tool + Instructions
Download Here
A central resource to analyze your local government’s financial reports. Includes a Google Sheets version (recommended for full functionality) and instructions.
Note: As Linda shared, the Excel download version loses some graphing functionality.

2. Share Your Results
Same link as above. Scroll down to find the “Share Your Results” button. Submitting your work helps Strong Towns build a national map of financial transparency efforts.

3. Strong Towns Community Slack
Join the Slack
Connect with others working through the Decoder and exploring local budgets. Get peer feedback, share examples, and join live discussions.

4. Strong Towns Local Conversations Directory
Find One Near You
A listing of grassroots groups engaged in reforming their local communities. Many of these groups are now incorporating the Decoder into their efforts.

5. Metro District Financial Sample
Triview Metro Board Financials
Shared by Edward as a public example of metro district financial statements in Colorado—useful for those analyzing special districts.

6. Monument, CO Audit Reports
Final Audits
A real-world source of audited financial data referenced by participants working on Decoder projects in Colorado.

📘 Articles & Podcasts Referenced

1. “Doing the Math in Calgary” by Nathan Hawryluk
Read the Article
Describes municipal finance through a compelling metaphor: “intergenerational dine-and-dash.” Useful for understanding how cities incur hidden long-term liabilities.

2. “Colorado Development Scheme Yields Billion-Dollar Debt”
Read the Article
Provides an overview of how financial instruments like metro districts accumulate massive long-term obligations, especially relevant for participants analyzing complex district data.

3. “Special Tax Districts for Development Are a Ticking Fiscal Time Bomb”
Read the Article
Explores how special districts shift risk to taxpayers while enabling unsustainable growth. Helpful for understanding structural flaws in local finance.

4. Upzoned Podcast: “How a Popular Development Practice Backfires on Homeowners”
Listen Here
Edward's podcast episode, cited as “fantastic,” which dives into financial models that seem promising on paper but harm residents in practice.

📥 Additional Shared Materials

1. Ottawa Document Example
View the Document
A shared local research document illustrating how one community approached data gathering and financial analysis.

💬 Participant Questions & Reflections

• “What are transfers?”
  A great reminder that many participants are coming in without an accounting background. Additional glossary or explainer resources may be helpful in the future.

• Discussion on “Trust & Verify”
  RL McFarland reframed accountability in civic finance as “Trust & Verify,” comparing it to double-entry bookkeeping—reinforcing that asking questions is healthy, not hostile.

• Observations on Local Resistance
  Multiple participants noted defensiveness from local officials when financial questions are raised. This underscores the importance of framing and peer support in outreach efforts.

• Metro District Complexity
  Dawn shared that her town of 11,000 has 10 metro districts—highlighting the challenge of tracking layered obligations and the need for expert review.

🤝 Ways to Stay Involved

• Apply to the Strong Towns Cohort Program
  Learn More
  Applications reopen after the Strong Towns National Gathering. Join others doing deep dives into city finance with guidance from Strong Towns staff.

• Act Soon: Join Us at the National Gathering
  A chance to meet others from the chat in person and continue these vital conversations.

• Need Help?
  If you want a second set of eyes on your spreadsheet or have questions, reach out to Norm directly at norm@strongtowns.org.