The Journal & Courier has a sound opinion piece where it points out that we need to devote more of our resources to maintenance and repairs of infrastructure.
Infrastructure repairs are expensive. Maintenance is somewhat less expensive, but in many cases, preventative or rehabilitative maintenance has not kept pace[.]
When you have limited resources, there is a temptation to devote them to more noticeable things and delay maintenance for another year. You increase or maintain operating expenses and your capital fund suffers as a result. Delay maintenance long enough, and you’re looking at a catastrophic repair bill. It’s the whole “stitch in time saves nine” concept.
But, as a rule, we voters don’t reward politicians for keeping the lights on, the roads smooth, the sewers flowing, the trash picked up, and the water clean. Rather we raise holy hell when these things don’t happen, and pout when we’re asked to pay for them.
Good points. An analogy can be made to businesses. Many organizations tend to lavish resources on the “newest, greatest” project, while neglecting the steady performers. I have seen it firsthand.
There is probably an element of human nature in this. People tend to over-value the newest gadget at the expense of the older, perhaps more dependable, technology.