Fiscal Administration

This book is written so poorly I can barely get through it. Mikesell goes on and on with run-on sentences, excessive details that get in the way of the concepts, and very poor organization of the concepts. He shifts styles, meanders off topic, and fails to get to the point. He also uses very few graphs or illustrations. Instead, he includes large tables of numerical data (rather than a chart, like a pie, line, or bar graph, that would bring out the important message).Even though it's in the 7th edition, it reads like a rough first draft. It needs major revision. In order to get through it, I skim for the ideas and skip a lot of the text. When I try to "read" it (i.e. every word), I get so bogged down, I can't move forward and I don't retain much. Mikesell obscures the main concepts in a haze of excess words, unhelpful information, and pervasive use of the passive voice.Unfortunately, I have to use this book for my graduate Public Financial Management course. If you have the choice, find something better.

This text book is the worst I have ever been asked to read. For an entry level public budgeting course, this reading was off the charts: boring, unclear, and downright confusing. For sure the worst book I have ever read. It is only thanks to the Internet that I was able to learn the things I needed to for the course, thank God. Because this book wouldn't have cut it. If you see it on a syllabus, take a different class !

Very boring to read, but it was very helpful in studying how cities, manage their budgets. I became more aware of the tax structure than ever before.

Wonderful textbook, as far as textbooks go! Interesting font used throughout the book. Good quotes included and excellent reference material for further study. Had to buy it for my Master's level class and feel that I've learned a lot so far. Halfway through my semester upon writing this review. A must for a municipal manager!

No complaints!