Cost of Community Services

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Costs of Community Services (COCS), refers to a type of analysis that examines various types of land use and their impact local government taxation and spending. As “urban sprawl” has increased both citizens and government officials have become aware of the range of impacts this type of development has on a community’s fiscal position. When open space is converted to residential or commercial development, the local government is required to provide added services to the new development that was not previously demanded. Does the increased revenue balance the increased demand for services? That is the question this analysis sets out to answer.

Using data specific to your local government, and after extensive interviews of your local staff and elected officials, your revenues and expenditures will be me apportioned to various categories of land use. The result will be a set of ratios showing the proportional relationship of revenues and expenditures by land use. With this information, local policy makers will have a much better understanding of the fiscal impact of planning and zoning decisions.