- Economic development is the answer. But what is the question?
Virginia Economic Development Week recently brought a burst of energy and optimism from the Virginia Economic Developers Association. Their message was clear and emphatic: “Economic Development is the ANSWER. To Better Housing. To Stronger Education. To Workforce Opportunities. To Sound Transportation Networks. To Better Healthcare.” It is hard not to appreciate the spirit behind this… Read more: Economic development is the answer. But what is the question? - It’s budget season. But are local budgets written for citizens?
Spring is budget season across Virginia. In counties, cities, and towns across the Commonwealth, local governments are releasing their advertised budgets, holding public hearings, and formally inviting citizen input before adopting budgets for the coming fiscal year. Virginia law requires this process. Local governments must publicly advertise their proposed budgets and provide opportunities for public… Read more: It’s budget season. But are local budgets written for citizens? - When perception diverges from reality: fiscal illusion and Virginia’s roads
Public debates about government spending are often shaped less by data than by perception. One of the most enduring examples is the belief—common across much of rural America—that smaller communities are “forgotten” by state government. In public finance, this gap between perception and reality has a name: fiscal illusion. Fiscal illusion arises when taxpayers misunderstand… Read more: When perception diverges from reality: fiscal illusion and Virginia’s roads - Don’t tax me, don’t tax thee, tax the man behind the tree
How Virginia’s fiscal system redistributes in all the wrong ways American political debates about taxes and public services are often framed as a choice between two competing visions. One emphasizes progressive taxation and redistribution, with the goal of ensuring that those with greater means contribute more to support shared public services. The other emphasizes limited… Read more: Don’t tax me, don’t tax thee, tax the man behind the tree - Virginia’s fiscal system: the “hellish version” of a state-local tax system
There is an old European joke about how the continent might be organized. In an ideal Europe, the British are the police, the Germans are the engineers, the French are the chefs, the Italians are the lovers, and the Swiss organize everything. In Europe’s version of hell, the Germans are the police, the French are… Read more: Virginia’s fiscal system: the “hellish version” of a state-local tax system