In light of negative housing market news, what should elected officials at the municipal, county, and state level do? They absolutely need to create a long-term financial model and plan to determine whether they can withstand economic or market downturns. For decades, municipal officials punt doing serious planning and kick the can down the line in to the future. Well, the future has arrived. Elected officials need to canvass their constituents through surveys or focus groups to determine what their priorities are and include them in the long-term financial plan. Elected officials also need to go through their budgets with a fine-tooth comb and get rid of projects that are only for special interest groups rather than for the good of all of their constituents…Read More