Third District Council Member Darius Brown, a member of Wilmington City Council’s Economic Development Committee, will participate on a national panel in November to help cities prepare for economic downturns. The panel will convene in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as part of the National League of Cities (NLC) “City Summit” which is held annually around the country to showcase collaborative solutions to issues facing local government. Brown serves on the Board of Directors of the NLC and is Chair of the NLC’s Finance, Administration and Intergovernmental Relations (FAIR) Committee.

Brown said a highlight of the City Summit will be the release of the 2016 City Fiscal Conditions Report which is the 31st such report to be issued. According to the NLC, the report, which began as a compilation of information from the Joint Economic Committee in Congress, today serves a critical role in providing a window into the fiscal health of the nation’s cities. Combining decades of historical data, the report surveys city finance officers on their cities’ abilities to meet fiscal needs and then factors budgets, tax receipts, revenue and spending trends to provide a context for how current fiscal conditions compare with previous recession and recovery periods.

“In Wilmington’s recent history, we have weathered a recession but we are still a City that has to work hard every year to balance the needs of our citizens with our ability to produce enough revenue to support government operations,” said Brown. “Being a decision-maker at the local government level exposes you to a wide variety of problems for which solutions are either relatively easy or somewhat difficult. There doesn’t seem to be much of a middle ground. You learn quickly that each issue is unique and the role that City officials play in bringing a matter to resolution. I am glad to have the opportunity to share my knowledge with other cities and, at the same time, learn from the experience of other cities.

Brown said his panel will focus on three different fiscal tools cities can use to minimize exposure to economic downturns including stress testing, incentive based budgeting and rainy day funds. Brown said the session will help cities evaluate their community’s reactions to different financial situations, develop a savings plan for emergencies, and become more financially self-sufficient.

The NLC’s City Summit is an opportunity for local leaders – both elected and staff – to learn from experts and each other. The 2016 City Summit will feature conference workshop sessions spanning topics most relevant to cities today which include:

• Economic Development
• Technology and Data Uses for Cities
• Sustainability
• Leadership Relationships
• Demographics
• Transportation and Alternatives
• Climate Change and Impacts on Cities
• Cultural and Social Issues in the Community

While in Pittsburgh, Brown said he’ll also participate in the NLC’s third annual Big Ideas for Small Cities session that will showcase prominent leaders from small cities who will share one compelling and creative idea that made a dramatic difference to the future of their community.