Something is going on under the surface.
Local governments take in plenty of tax revenue from citizens.
Expenses are not rising that much.
I'd expect massive city greed and corruption more so the cause.
Our city is on shaky ground too.
In the last several years quite a few State and local government corruption scandals have surfaced.
One, city officials hiring family and mistresses, barely graduated high school, and paid hundreds of thousands in salary EACH !!!
Then there was the film industry scandal.
Thousands paid by state taxes to get movie makers to bring and produce films within the state. Didn't work. Tax money wasted.
Or tax breaks to get out of state employers to relocate in state.
They did, took the taxpayer loot, then left again.
All while long termed stable concrete local and state sourced businesses were taxed into bankruptcy.
Now, the best scam of them all...? The federal matching road fund.
The state and local corruption placing massive federal and state tax money into officials pockets.
Every year the city tears up the same roads, closed all year long for repair.
Then suddenly opened back up mid December.
Only to again close and torn up the next April thru mid December the following year.
Over and over again. Year after year. Very same roads. To cook the books.
Why?
To assure ongoing continuation of that generous federal matching money.
Money pocketed by city officials in huge sums.
Looks legit on the books!!! Easy to cook.
Now.... The city wants to raise taxes for road repair.
Why?
To show more yearly road repair spending, in order to raise that federal matching loot.
And thus, a raise for those pocketing the cashola.
Isn't greed lovely?
If there is one state and local government scam that needs to end, it is federal matching road funds.
The federal government would save trillions in that area alone.
That alone would stop much of local and state corruption still going on today.
The very corruption causing these cities to go bankrupt.
They take in plenty of tax revenue from property taxes and other taxes.
Corruption and pure greed is causing cities to fail. Not some lack of revenue.