Public works projects deserve investment -- no one should challenge that. But the Public trust must not be squandered in the process. Jefferson County in Alabama filed the largest public bankruptcy in U.S. History last year because of corruption and dysfunction surrounding the reconstruction of the county's sewer system
Redondo Beach Mike Gin should be commended for his fiscal conservatism in running his city. He has received praise from local newspapers throughout the South Bay for his service, which has not suffered a significant fiscal backlash following the 2008 housing crises.
Still, to raise taxes on working families for sewer renovation during this anemic recovery is unfortunate. Cities do need sewers, and sewage needs to be sent away as soon as possible. At least the city can look forward to contracting companies at a lower rate, for many construction outfits are still looking for work in the midst of hard times, and they will more likely demand less money for reconstructing city sewers than they would have asked during more flush times (no pun intended).
Yet if taxpayers must foot a greater part of the bill to finance these repairs, someone must ensure that the money is invested properly. Big or small, municipal governments are never very careful with other people's money, and it is other people's money that funds their efforts entirely.
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