Fostering Fiscal Predictability: Comprehensive Plan to Development Code

A city government is similar to a corporation in that it adopts a budget each year and accounts for expenditures as well as revenues from taxes and fees. Cities must account for short-term, long-term, and ongoing costs, such as maintenance, public safety, and general administration.

Development prompts the provision of roadways, utilities, and other infrastructure. Often the initial costs to pave a roadway or install infrastructure are paid for by developers; however, long-term and ongoing infrastructure maintenance costs are the responsibility of the city and, therefore, the taxpaying citizens. By incorporating fiscal responsibility as a core value, from long-range planning to future patterns of private development, communities can shape more financially resilient cities and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability for the their bottom line.

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