Intern, Fiscal Systems

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Mission The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy seeks to improve the quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land. A nonprofit private operating foundation whose origins date to 1946, the Lincoln Institute researches and recommends creative approaches to land as a solution to economic, social, and environmental challenges. Through education, training, publications, and events, we integrate theory and practice to inform public policy decisions worldwide. With locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Washington, DC; Phoenix; and Beijing, we organize our work around the achievement of six goals: low‑carbon, climate‑resilient communities and regions; efficient and equitable tax systems; reduced poverty and spatial inequality; fiscally healthy communities and regions; sustainably managed land and water resources; and functional land markets and reduced informality. Summary Of Position And Objectives Assist with data collection and analytic tasks for research projects under the supervision of the Institute’s Municipal Fiscal Health Program Manager, gaining foundational knowledge and professional experience on property taxation, public finance, and municipal fiscal health. Team Overview The work of the Lincoln Institute’s Fiscal Systems team advances efficient and equitable methods of taxation and the use of land‑based financing tools to supply a full range of public services, from social housing to investment in climate resilience measures. We provide public officials with tools and training to improve community welfare through fiscal policy, including modern valuation methods, new techniques for gauging the land value increment resulting from public investment, and case studies of successful implementation of these approaches. We also publish extensive databases that allow comparison of alternative approaches to land‑based taxation, covering state‑by‑state property tax features and local finance measures across many revenue categories. Position Overview The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is looking for a part‑time intern to join the Fiscal Systems team. As a member of the Fiscal Systems team, you will assist with research activities of the Institute’s Municipal Fiscal Health program. Specifically, you will support an ongoing research collaboration between the Lincoln Institute and the Urban‑Brookings Tax Policy Center on how declining office values are affecting local government budgets in select U.S. cities. The project examines how cities’ exposure to commercial real estate may affect property tax revenues, fiscal risk, and public policy responses. Your work will focus on supporting data collection and analysis related to select U.S. cities’ annual comprehensive financial reports (ACFRs), budget documents, assessed values, property tax revenues, and/or public indicators of office market conditions. The Fiscal Systems team will provide guidance on priorities, data templates, and expected outputs. You will receive access to relevant project materials, data templates, public data sources, and guidance from the project team. The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy will provide staff support through regular check‑ins and feedback. Work will rely primarily on publicly available data, shared files, and standard software such as Excel, Google Sheets, Stata/R, or similar tools, as needed. What You Will Do Assist on specific projects as directed and perform tasks in line with established procedures. Research and knowledge development: assist in gathering and organizing research materials for reports and presentations. Assist in gathering information and proposing basic solutions for assignments under supervision. Maintain accurate documentation for all assigned tasks. Provide regular updates on task progress to supervisors. Adhere to organizational policies, processes, and guidelines. #J-18808-Ljbffr Lincoln Institute of Land Policy