Urban Analytics specializes in economic and fiscal aspects of public policy and finance. The firm’s principal, David Mealy, has over twenty-five years of experience with redevelopment, public finance, and planning. His practical knowledge of tax increment financing and redevelopment practices provide a solid basis for the firm's services. Mr. Mealy has been responsible for a wide range of projects, from the analysis of regional revenue-sharing formulations to complex audits of property tax revenue and the development of new infrastructure financings. The firm has provided fiscal reports on more than thirty bond issues involving over $3 billion.
A hallmark of the firm’s work is the in-depth analysis of property tax revenue streams. The firm uses its Urbics website and proprietary software to identify strengths and weaknesses in a jurisdiction’s assessment rolls and conducts detailed audits of tax receipts. This approach uncovers unique problems, such as missing or erroneous valuations, misallocated assessments and unusual assessment patterns, in addition to quantifying the impact of assessment appeals, new sales and other factors. The firm has used this expertise to identify substantial amounts of revenue not allocated to client agencies as well as to pinpoint the cause of significant drops or gains in tax rolls. The firm utilizes the latest computer technology, including mapping software, in analyzing and presenting material.
The firm’s approach is tailored to the particular problems and concerns of the client. Rather than provide a prepackaged report, Urban Analytics uses information gathered from discussions with staff, from preliminary reviews of the revenue and from other sources to focus its audit services on known or potential problem areas. The firm works closely with staff throughout a project, informing them of findings and responding to questions.
Before forming Urban Analytics, Mr. Mealy was a principal of Bay Area Economics, providing fiscal and economic services to cities and redevelopment agencies. Mr. Mealy’s practical knowledge of redevelopment grows out of five years with the San Jose Redevelopment Agency, where he was responsible for maintaining the capital budget, projecting revenue and managing an ambitious bond financing program.
Mr. Mealy previously served as Senior Economist to the New York City Mayor's Office of Policy Analysis. His work included analyses leading to major revisions of the City's development incentive programs for housing, commercial and industrial projects.
Mr. Mealy received an MS in Urban Planning at Columbia University, with a specialization in economic development; he received a BA from the University of California at Santa Cruz, graduating with honors in Political Economy and Environmental Studies. Mr. Mealy has served as panelist for the State Controller's Association and the California League of Cities, has advised the California Debt Advisory Commission on matters related to redevelopment, and has guest-lectured at Columbia University and U.C. Berkeley. He maintains membership in the California Redevelopment Association, the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers and San Francisco Planning and Urban Research, and serves on the board of several community organizations.