San Bernardino Case Study

Abstract

By most accounts, four key factors have contributed to San Bernardino’s fiscal situation: the charter, political culture, state actions (or inactions) and economic shocks. The last two factors caused have caused many cities across the U.S. to stumble in recent years or even in recent decades, but the vast majority of them have been able to regain their footing. A weak charter combined with a negative political culture made overcoming the economic shocks and state actions too steep a hill for San Bernardino to climb. Most likely, it will be several years—as the city works its way through the bankruptcy process— before we know the extent to which San Bernardino stabilizes and regains its fiscal footing.