This discussion just makes me glad I don't live in the voting area and don't have to deal with all these issues. As badly as Iron sounds when he starts trolling, he makes a solid point about working on needs vs. wants. You expand too quickly and everything goes to hell. What's worse for the city, MAPS 3 failing and not getting a central park, or schools being underfunded and crime rate increasing after it did? Perhaps more methodical, measured growth is what's needed?

And yes, there is a relation between MAPS and any future potential bonds passed, especially in a conservative state. There have been a lot of stories out there this year about different city and county services that are unable to do things they need to do because they don't have funding. The pot is limited, do you ask citizens to pay for something temporarily to get a park downtown and the start of a trolley system? Or do you ask them to pay for a jail, for juvenile services, and for public safety?

If they're willing to pay for both, then fine and good, but if people feel they are being overtaxed, regardless of what the actual tax rate is, then they're less likely to approve future projects that add to it. If I were running an essential city service and needed more funds, MAPS passing would scare me too, because it makes people less likely to want to pay more.