In this thesis I explore the empirical effects of TELs, particularly limitations on property taxes, on fiscal risk metrics. The study is motivated by the increased financialization of the public sector, and concordant growth in risk in municipal government. How has the state-local relationship contributed to local risk? Using a panel regression with fixed effects on data from all 50 states 1967-2004, I find that TELs have significant effects on municipal risk. Property tax rate limits in particular increase risk, suggesting that some TELs may not constrain the size of local governments, but induce substitution towards higher-risk fiscal practices.