Strong Towns argues that financially resilient communities require local governments to operate with revenues meeting expenses over time, similar to a business. This involves considering the long-term costs of infrastructure and ensuring sufficient private wealth generation to fund them. The article highlights examples and concerns related to achieving this, such as incentivizing development in areas with existing infrastructure and recognizing that not all public amenities directly generate revenue. Furthermore, state-level restrictions on local revenue generation can hinder a city’s financial stability and create dependence on higher levels of government. Ultimately, the piece advocates for a shift in perspective towards building strong, financially independent cities and towns through informed policy and community engagement.

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