More Than Fines and Fees: Incorporating Equity into City Revenue Strategies

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, city leaders are working to tackle structural inequities in access to wealth and opportunity. An infusion of federal dollars from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and American Rescue Plan Act provides an opportunity to rethink past budget choices. This brief describes how city leaders are integrating equity into revenue structures. Our review suggests that cities should consider equity in both processes and outcomes, use data- and community-driven strategies to track progress and routinize evaluations, and include in-kind resources in their assessments. Federal, state, and county governments can also design intergovernmental grant and shared-revenue programs to prioritize equity.