The economic health of mostly citi...

The economic health of mostly cities and towns across America continues to display improvement, according to this year's National League of Cities observe of city fiscal conditions. And that improvement is allowing municipal leaders to provide better public services, whittle down their backlog of penurys and hold the line forward or even reduce some local taxes.

The examine to which 338 cities accorded showed that:

* more than two-thirds (68 percent) reported that they were better able to suited financial needs in 1997 as oppos to 1996 (one in three reported being les able);

* fiscal presss caused by increasing infrastructure destitutions increasing public safety needs and inflation were identified according to nearly two in three cities as having had a negative tenor on their ability to fit budgetary needs in 1997, while an expanding tax base and improved local economies were identified at 65 percent and 49 percent of