Write the letters a through o on a sheet of paper. Beside each letter, put a plus (+) if a high or increasing value of the item is generally associated with stronger financial condition, a minus (−) if a high or increasing value of the item is generally associated with a weaker financial condition, and NE if the item generally has no effect on the financial condition or the direction of the effect cannot be predicted.
a. Unfunded pension liability.
b. Operating deficit.
c. Revenues over expenditures.
d. Intergovernmental revenues.
e. Level of business activity.
f. Education level of citizens.
g. Unemployment rate.
h. Restrictions on revenues.
i. Personal income per capita.
j. Debt service.
k. Percentage of households below the poverty level.
l. Short-term borrowing.
m. Property values.
n. Population growth.
o. Political party of the mayor.