Essay Example on Colorado Springs: Poor Neighborhoods, Unemployment, and Inequality

Introduction

The poor neighborhoods eliminated the municipal programs due to the challenge of obtaining the costs required to cover the popular municipal programs from the after-school care for children. The closure of community centers caused teenagers to be idle hence involved in illegal and bad activities. The economic well-being of Colorado Springs reduced creating neighborhood-level inequality, increasing levels of abandoned houses, poverty and further unemployment (Ermasova, n.d.). There has been an increased crime in the community with the resident's claim of feeling less safe hence stay most times indoors due to cuts in police services. An increase in criminals in the city will reduce the tourism industry causing economic degradation. Also, there is the poor capital infrastructure from limited public works, equity problems between rich and poor, and brain drain due to emigration to better areas.

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Examples of Extreme Budget Cuts from Other Cities and Useful Suggestions for Colorado Springs

Roanoke Rapids city in North Carolina mayor and city council cut their pay by ten percent. Forest City council members cut their compensation by 12% (Ammons & Fleck, 2010, p. 25). The city of Asheville provided an incentive package for retirement for qualifying workers which got accepted with five percent of the workforce of the city.

The city of Savannah Georgia, developed different means for budgeting. The city council created priorities on the environment, health, neighborhood vitality, public safety and others. The council determined the expenses for the priorities and the departments are asked to create services at a good price addressing the priorities (Ammons & Fleck, 2010, p. 25).

Proposal on the Generation of More Revenue

The budget strain causes the city to invest in different activities of overtime practices such as excess overtime to deal with vacancies in positions. Also, avoid hiring replacements and clamping down on overtime use to limit expenditures. The city could create a tax increase on local income taxes, utility taxes, gasoline taxes, property taxes and sales taxes. For instance, an increase of ten cents per 100 dollars of assessed value, an increase in privilege license tax and tax rate in a few fire districts. The city can also increase fees such as a raise of parking fee by 50% for an hour at the parking meter, permit fee for bringing alcohol to the city park and expanded fee for children participating in the city programs after school. There should be taxes for tourists to minimize the tax burden on the citizens (Eggers, 2002, p. 7). Adopting a capital expense system to get the highest value for the utilization of assets since the capital cost of buildings and land shown in the budgets.

Did the Elected Leaders Reach too Far, Should they have Attempted a More Incremental Tax Increase?

The elected leaders went overboard in their effort incremental tax increase. The logical implication that would have been helpful for the residents of the city is partial service cut and restricted increase in tax. The elected leaders created a problem for the residents who were shocked by the cuts in taxes and city programs.

Based on the Cuts Made By the City, are there Equity Issues that the City is Not Considering?

The cuts in the transportation industry affect employees which will create issues in the welfare programs increasing issues for working-class members. There are neighborhoods with lower-class residents who are poor and faced first light cuts. The cutting of community centers programs causes difficulty for the working class who will have to balance between working and taking care of children.

References

Ammons, D. N., & Fleck, T. A. (2010). Budget-Balancing Tactics in Local Government. The School of Government at the University of California.

Eggers, W. D. (2002). Show Me The Money: Budget-Cutting Strategies for the Cash-Strapped States. American Legislative Exchange Council.

Ermasova, N. (n.d.). Case: Budget Priorities of Colorado Springs During Economic Decline.