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One response to “Marohn to Bring Strong Towns Insights to Virginia”

1. 

   LarrytheG

   October 23, 2017

   I note the key phrases “small towns” and ” Smart Growth and fiscal conservatism”

   Since most all towns provide more services than counties.. and that’s why and how many formed in the first place, you can’t have those increased services without paying for them – and of course -you want to do that in as fiscally conservative way as possible but those additional services are what attracts some people there for certain services and sends others away because of the higher taxes are more of an issue than additional services.

   So beyond the basic concept that you want to be fiscally conservative about providing the services – there are those that feel that some kinds of services they don’t want – are fiscally … wrong to have them and tax to provide them.

   Some folks want fire and police service but not parks and trails.. Others want water and sewer but object to storm water fees… etc

   but these issues – often portrayed by some as examples of fiscally irresponsible – are, in fact, what others actually want in services and pay for them in increased taxes.

   So .. bottom line – I’m not sure what “fiscally conservative” actually means in the context of towns.. fiscally irresponsible if they overrun their financial ability – but those things happen across the board ..towns, cities, states, companies.. etc.. so what’s a fiscally conservative town look like – beyond the no-brainer part about keeping your finances under control?

   is it having and not having certain services? Does it mean an even heavier hand on zoning and regulations especially with regard to parking?

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