City & Town Newsletters

This article highlights free tools offered by DLS that can help local officials build robust peer analyses in minutes. These resources allow communities to benchmark against comparable municipalities, identify trends, set realistic goals, and communicate complex financial realities to residents and stakeholders with greater clarity.

Using the Financial Management Resource Bureau's Financial Indicator tool to understand and budget the most reliable revenue source available to a community, it's property tax levy.

This article provides pointers, general guidance, and resources for local officials to ensure a smooth, timely, and accurate year-end close process.

This article from the DLS Bureau of Local Payments analyzes historical trends in the Community Preservation Fund distribution.

This article explains how the collection of committed real and personal property taxes affects free cash in a municipality. It explains the starting point of the free cash calculation, impacts on free cash and it provides helpful examples.

This article reviews the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission's (PERAC) 2023 report and discusses important indicators for the financial health of each retirement system.

This article reviews the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission's (PERAC) 2024 report and discusses important indicators for the financial health of each retirement system.

In this article, Senior Deputy Commissioner Sean Cronin provides a glimpse into the metrics DLS uses to track progress both during and at the conclusion of the tax rate-setting season. It provides helpful data, context and resources that benefit local officials as they review their previous processes and prepare for the future.

In this article, Senior Deputy Commissioner Sean Cronin provides a glimpse into the metrics DLS uses to track progress both during and at the conclusion of the tax rate-setting season. It provides helpful data, context and resources that benefit local officials as they review their previous processes and prepare for the future.

This article reviews and analyzes data as it relates to a previously published City & Town piece on the Motor Vehicle Excise tax. It provides historical statewide information over the past two decades.