annual public finance conference

Each year, the ASU Public Finance Conference brings together practitioners and public officials to discuss one of the key challenges in contemporary governance: financial capacity in the public sector.

past conferences 

2015 highlights:

Kent Hiteshew, director of the Office of State and Local Finance at the U.S. Department of Treasury will be the keynote speaker. His office was established in response to requests for assistance from local jurisdictions facing fiscal and financial challenges. He will share observations on the role of the new office as well as new and upcoming federal activities to address local governments' continued rebound from the effects of the recession.

William Glasgall, program and editorial director for Volcker Alliance's State/Local Accountability and Improvement programs, will open the conference. A long-time business journalist and former managing editor at Bloomberg News, Glasgall will share Volcker's perspective on public finance and how his team is a team that is addressing the recommendations from the State Budget Crisis Task Force.

The conference includes two general tracks: the basics and innovative financing.

The basics includes tools for local finance and updates on new developments in the bond markets, including legislative changes. The innovative financing track includes a panel on social impact bonds and a discussion of debt-related derivatives. We will also highlight tools from the Smart Cities Council Financing Guide.

This year, one panel will be devoted to sports and cultural amenities financing with guests including Paul Dolan, CEO of the Cleveland Indians, Jeffrey Patchen, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, Simon Farbrother, recent past president of the International City/County Management Association and city manager of Edmonton, Canada, and Dr. Mark Rosentraub, director of the University of Michigan Center for Sports Management. 

2014 highlights:

Download Conference booklet:  2014_asu_public_finance_conference_1.pdf

While the federal government is the leading source for public financing, alternative approaches are increasing.

“Financial capacity in the public sector is one of the key challenges in governance,” says Jonathan Koppell, dean of the College of Public Programs. “We are looking at innovative approaches to help city officials implement the infrastructure needed to build strong communities.”

“This is an issue that affects local and global communities. This conference is one of the many ways we bring together researchers and practitioners to discuss solutions and implement best practices,” says Koppell.

A highlight at the conference was the unveiling and discussion around the new report released by the Smart Cities Council and ASU’s Center for Urban Innovation which outlines some of the most promising tools to help cities improve the efficiency of large-scale systems, such as water and transportation, to smaller projects. The findings outline 28 tools for municipal financing. 

At the conference, keynote speaker Georgia Levenson Keohane, a Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, explored innovations in the public finance space, including novel approaches to financing for catastrophe bonds and the growing use of social impact bonds and pay-for-success in social finance.

Complexities in the financing sector go beyond navigating the options. The Securities and Exchange Commission implemented new rules and regulations governing municipal bond disclosure. 

Other sessions brought experts from around the country to discuss their experience with large-scale projects, including sports and amenities and transit financing.

The closing session was led by the Morrison Institute for Public Policy’s incoming director, Thom Reilly, who will address current challenges in financing public pensions. Reilly formerly served as county manager and CEO of Clark County, Nevada’s most populated county with 1.8 million people.

2013 highlights:

Download Conference booklet:  spa_municonference_program.pdf