Building Costs Deal Blow to Local Budgets

[douglas9]

SEATTLE — State and local governments in many parts of the country are struggling to pay for roads, bridges and other building projects because of rising construction costs, adding another burden to budgets already stressed by the troubled housing market.

The problems have come as many governments pursue ambitious projects to improve roads and airports, build schools and upgrade long-neglected water and sewer systems. Many of the projects were conceived when money from property, sales and income taxes was steady and interest rates low, but officials say the ground has shifted beneath their feet.

“Everybody’s scared,” said Uche Udemezue, director of engineering and transportation for San Leandro, Calif., which will soon put out a request for construction bids on a retiree center and a parking garage. “You don’t know what you’re going to find when you go out to bid.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/26/us/26build.html?ei=5088&en=d27a73edefeb6544&ex=1359003600&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1201349417-emesOrfpnhhmQQd8hrFsHw&pagewanted=print

[onethatcares]

1. now, picture this

Here on the left coast of Floriduh, we are suffering a property tax problem. Not enough money to go around and the legislature wants to cut taxes further. They state we'll lose police/fire personnel/schools if taxes aren't cut. Now for the funny part. Our city government wants to give our tax dollars to build a fucking baseball stadium on our waterfront(after amending the city charter in secret). How does that compute?