CLEO Virtual Event Navigating Market Swings: What They Mean for Local Government Finances

California Policy Center’s municipal finance experts shared insights on how to prepare—no matter which direction the market takes. Topics included:

  • The relationship between stock market performance, tax revenues and pension liabilities

  • What recent trends mean for your city’s financial outlook

  • Practical steps to safeguard your budget against future volatility

Panelists

Moderator: Lance Christensen, Senior Fellow, California Policy Center
Lance has over 20 years of experience in public policy and finance. He previously worked as a finance budget analyst at the Department of Finance, and served as chief of staff to former California State Sen. John Moorlach. Lance was the inaugural director of Reason Foundation’s Pension Reform Project, setting the stage for major reforms in state and local retirement programs across the country.

John Moorlach, Senior Fellow & Director, Center for Public Accountability, California Policy Center

As a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Financial Planner, John began his career in public service 30 years ago when he warned that then Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Robert Citron’s risky investment strategies would lead to bankruptcy. Moorlach’s warnings proved true when Orange County filed for bankruptcy protection in 1994, then the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. He was appointed the county Treasurer-Tax Collector in 1995 and was twice re-elected. In 2006, voters elected John to serve in his first of two terms on the Board of Supervisors. He later served as the state senator for the 37th district from 2015 to 2020.

Mark Moses, Senior Fellow, California Policy Center
Mark has 30 years of experience in local government finance. He is the author of The Municipal Financial Crisis, a guide to understanding and improving government budgeting.

Marc Joffe, Visiting Fellow, California Policy Center
Marc is president of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association. After a long career in the financial industry, including a senior director role at Moody’s Analytics, he transitioned to policy research at California Policy Center and Reason Foundation. Joffe’s research focuses on government finance and state policy issues.