A recent study by WalletHub, a financial advisory site, has labeled New York City as one of the worst-run cities in America, placing it 145th out of the country’s 148 largest cities.
This places the Big Apple as the fourth worst-run city in the nation, a finding that has surprised many who regard New York as one of the world’s premier cities.
WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo emphasized that well-run cities effectively utilize their budgets to ensure high-quality services, including financial security, education, health, safety, and transportation.
Lupo noted that many of the best-performing cities also maintain low outstanding government debt per capita, thereby fostering financial stability and preventing potential future troubles.
The WalletHub study evaluated 36 key indicators to assess the quality of city services, which were then compared against the cities’ per-capita budgets to generate a comprehensive ranking.
The indicators were classified into six main categories: financial stability, education, health, safety, economy, and infrastructure and pollution.
When it comes to the quality of city services, New York performed relatively well, achieving a rank of 23rd among the 148 cities analyzed.
The city excelled particularly in health, education, infrastructure, and pollution, with rankings of 16th, 21st, 24th, and 31st, respectively.
However, its overall score was significantly impacted by its performance in financial stability and the economy, where it ranked 77th and 136th, respectively.
This contrast raises questions about how New York City could find itself so low in overall rankings despite its strengths in various service areas.
The simple answer lies in the city’s extraordinarily high annual budget, which consistently ranks as the most expensive in the nation.
New York City’s overall quality of city services score was divided by its total budget per capita, leading to a score per dollar spent that ultimately determined the best- and worst-run cities.
In this metric, New York City found itself in a dismal 147th position out of 148 for its total budget per capita, ranking just behind San Francisco.
This unfortunate ranking led to a fall of more than 120 spots in the overall assessments, taking it from the 23rd best quality of city services to the 145th best-run city.
WalletHub’s findings provided an intriguing snapshot of the best- and worst-run cities across the United States.
The analysis highlighted Provo, Utah, as the best-run city, ranking 1st with a quality of city services rank of 5, and a total budget per capita rank of 2.
Other top cities included Nampa, Idaho (2nd), Manchester, New Hampshire (3rd), Boise, Idaho (4th), and Nashua, New Hampshire (5th), each demonstrating efficient budget management and quality services.
Conversely, the study identified San Francisco as the worst-run city, holding the 1st position for poor management with a quality of city services rank of 57 and a total budget per capita rank of 148.
Following San Francisco in the worst-run category were Detroit, Oakland, New York City, and Philadelphia, further emphasizing the financial challenges faced by these urban centers.
The WalletHub study serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in city management, particularly in a city as vast and multifaceted as New York.
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