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But why? None of this should be unexpected. All construction requires permits so you know ahead of time what's being built and almost certainly can just extrap

But why? None of this should be unexpected. All construction requires permits so you know ahead of time what's being built and almost certainly can just extrapolate out how many new kids will be in the school system based on the current rates. It's like how a bunch of cities approve new commercial construction but then don't also don't fast-track some residential construction; you're just going to generate traffic because nobody can live close to work.

supertrope 9mo ago
School financing needs drives a lot of local government decisions. It's an invisible force like gravity. Approving office buildings and retail stores adds tax revenue without adding to school district costs (enrolling students). Approving housing construction means more students to absorb. The public cannot directly vote to reject the electric company's price increases, or more expensive groceries, or car dealers charging MSRP. Requiring voters to directly approve school taxes or public services is great for cost control. But you get what you pay for with austerity: long waits for service, crowding, short hours, lower quality employees. Voters only approve the school levy when the pain of service cuts exceeds the pain of forking over another $$$/yr in tax. While residents choose politicians, over long periods of time politicians choose what mix of residents can move into the area! Think of downtown areas that are purely zoned for office buildings and parking garages.
deleted 9mo ago
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mixmastamyk 9mo ago
Ask your town to implement robhit's municipal bonds. Should be automatic but govt often fails our expectations. Perhaps that is the knowledge lost when term limits kick in.
- lesuorac 9mo ago
  > robhit's municipal bonds. https://www.google.com/search?q=+robhit%27s+municipal+bonds https://www.google.com/search?q=+robhit%27s+municipal+bonds What exactly am I search for?
  - mixmastamyk 9mo ago
    The sibling to your "But why?" comment.

supertrope 9mo ago

School financing needs drives a lot of local government decisions. It's an invisible force like gravity. Approving office buildings and retail stores adds tax revenue without adding to school district costs (enrolling students). Approving housing construction means more students to absorb. The public cannot directly vote to reject the electric company's price increases, or more expensive groceries, or car dealers charging MSRP. Requiring voters to directly approve school taxes or public services is great for cost control. But you get what you pay for with austerity: long waits for service, crowding, short hours, lower quality employees. Voters only approve the school levy when the pain of service cuts exceeds the pain of forking over another $$$/yr in tax. While residents choose politicians, over long periods of time politicians choose what mix of residents can move into the area! Think of downtown areas that are purely zoned for office buildings and parking garages.

deleted 9mo ago

[deleted]

mixmastamyk 9mo ago

Ask your town to implement robhit's municipal bonds. Should be automatic but govt often fails our expectations. Perhaps that is the knowledge lost when term limits kick in.

lesuorac 9mo ago
> robhit's municipal bonds. https://www.google.com/search?q=+robhit%27s+municipal+bonds https://www.google.com/search?q=+robhit%27s+municipal+bonds What exactly am I search for?
- mixmastamyk 9mo ago
  The sibling to your "But why?" comment.