Counterpoint, deferring maintenance is a classic way to make an unbalanced budget look balanced. A realistic accounting would show that you are steadily headed towards insolvency, and the budget needs to be fixed one way or another. That could be increasing revenue, it could be decreasing services, it could even be reducing the number of paved roads if your muni is really in crisis.
I make no accusations of stupidity or incompetence. My belief is more along the lines of the citizens have unrealistic expectations, e.g. how many miles of road their muni can actually afford to run & maintain for the taxes citizens are willing to pay.
I make no accusations of stupidity or incompetence. My belief is more along the lines of the citizens have unrealistic expectations, e.g. how many miles of road their muni can actually afford to run & maintain for the taxes citizens are willing to pay.