Transit Funding: Who’s Actually Driving This Thing
Transit reliability is shaped less by agency performance than by funding design. Capital and operating money are split, controlled by different actors, and bound by veto points. The result is visible investment without dependable service.
Local Budgets: The Real Map Behind Your City’s Money
Local budgets are binding control documents that enforce a hierarchy of spending. In California, fixed costs and voter-restricted revenues are paid first, while flexible services absorb cuts when money runs short. This structure explains why some services erode over time while legally protected obligations remain stable.