Like we all know the household budgeting thing is hilariously inaccurate, right? Cities do not go up to Chase and be like “one billion dollars in loan please”

I want to be able to set capital and operational budgets for the year. I want to be able to issue bonds on the prospect of future revenue. Let me build a rail like by increasing property taxes along the corridor!

If I can't service my debt that doesn't mean I can't build any roads, it means my credit rating gets downgraded. Let me apply for matching funds from state and federal governments

Cities Skylines has a magical tax threshold where people just leave your city, regardless of the services you provide. but NYC has _its own income tax_ and it's one of the most populous cities on the continent!

I'm not saying every subway line should require an EAS but maybe we could be a little more considered about how much it'll cost and the tools we can pay for it

It'd be such a good didactic tool! Let people sell off their key infrastructure to private consortiums and go bankrupt five years later. Let a public/private partnership finance your new streetcar and fleece you for all you have

In conclusion read Fear City by Kim Phillips-Fein, it's a fascinating look at how municipal sausage is made