Dr. Craig S. Maher Wins Best Book Award for Research on Municipal Fiscal Health

Dr. Craig S. Maher, Fellow, National Academy of Public Administration ,and his co-authors Sungho Park, Bruce McDonald III, and Steven Deller, have received the Best Book Award from the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management (ABFM) for his book Understanding Municipal Fiscal Health: A Model for Local Governments in the USA.

The book is the culmination of more than 15 years of Maher’s research and teaching on municipal fiscal health in UNO’s Master of Public Administration program.

Understanding Municipal Fiscal Health

Municipal fiscal health is critical for local governments as they plan, prioritize services, and maintain long-term stability. However, officials often lack accessible, research-backed tools to fully understand the pressures that influence their fiscal condition. Dr. Maher’s book addresses this gap by offering a framework that is both academically rigorous and practical, reflecting UNO’s mission to produce research that strengthens communities and supports evidence-based public service leadership.

Key Contributions

ABFM praised the book for its clarity in distinguishing commonly confused financial concepts—such as fiscal health, fiscal stress, fiscal trends, and fiscal condition—and its relevance for policy development. Its analysis of how municipalities and states respond to fiscal stress is particularly insightful for current government officials. The book examines fiscal conditions as the result of both external pressures and local fiscal decisions, providing a holistic understanding of the drivers of financial stability.

The book is particularly timely for local officials who are navigating financial challenges resulting from national and state policies, as well as broader economic uncertainty. Through its case studies, it provides practical examples of how local leaders can effectively manage operations during periods of fiscal turmoil.

Dr. Maher’s Insights on the Book

“It is one of the few books that considers fiscal condition as a function of both the environment in which the local governments operate and local fiscal decisions. The case studies focusing on medium-small cities effectively illustrate the different ways in which environmental factors can affect municipal fiscal conditions.”

Dr. Maher’s book offers valuable insights into local officials navigating fiscal challenges, and its recognition by the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management underscores its impact. Congratulations to him and his co-authors on this achievement.