This Strong Towns podcast episode features a conversation between Chuck Marone and Rick Cole, a seasoned public servant with experience as a mayor, city manager, and council member. They discuss Cole’s extensive background in local government, highlighting his early involvement in community leadership and his long career focused on municipal finance and urban development. Cole emphasizes the moral dimension of city budgets, viewing them as reflections of community values and priorities. The discussion explores the challenges of structural budget deficits, the need for data-driven decision-making rather than tradition or politics, and the importance of citizen engagement and understanding in effective self-governance. They touch on historical perspectives of essential services like fire departments and advocate for a shift towards a participatory model of local government where residents are partners in shaping their communities’ futures.

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