The article deals of the path of programs of federal government dedicated to administrative and fiscal modernization of Brazilian cities since the 30s. The focus in this text, however, is the programs implemented during Fernando Henrique's government (1995-2002) and Lula's government (2003-10) aimed at to increase the administrative and fiscal capacities in the cities. The central argument is about these programs having always been designed and implemented by federal bureaucracies proposing solutions for municipalities that represent the "modernizing" vision of the central government to management problems of local governments. These initiatives have duplicated efforts and don't help to envisage the municipal administrative failures, which limited its reach and generated few results since their return in the agenda of the federal government from 1997.
municipalities; administration; modernization; fiscal management; bureaucracy