ABSTRACT
Due to poor economic conditions, tax revenues in many areas have steadily decreased in recent years. There is simply less funding available to pays the bills. Many areas are already facing this dilemma while other areas not currently suffering are expecting budget cuts in a host of agencies. For example, Phoenix, Arizona, had to eliminate a number of staff positions over a threeyear period from 2007 to 2010. Cutting staff positions is a common reaction to the economic problems. Other areas have had to cut funding for departments or have reduced the number of library hours or eliminated some branches of the local library system. While no one knows how long the current fiscal blight of our cities will last, these budget problems affect service delivery and the residents’ quality of life. Nevertheless, some areas continue to construct new buildings during hard economic times. The City of North Las Vegas built a new city hall, much to the chagrin of some of its residents (see Plate 9).
