[foolfoolz]

> City of Seattle revenues have grown dramatically from $2.8B in 2010 to $4.2B in 2017, and they will be even higher in 2018. This revenue increase far outpaces the Seattle population increase over the same time period. The city does not have a revenue problem – it has a spending efficiency problem

[jwilliams]

That quote (from Amazon representatives) implies that revenue is non-linear to population -- but that expenses should be linear. I don't buy into that view. Especially in a "boom".

[taurath]

Meanwhile real estate prices have gone up 2-300% in the same timeframe, and they are building light rail to deal with the gridlock.

[adrianpike]

Very slowly for many parts of the city - Ballard is looking at a 2030+ timeline to get a light rail expansion.

That said, it's better than nothing!

[_ptgt]

The expense-to-marginal-population curve shouldn't even be linear--it should be logarithmic. As a city grows, you would expect it to get better at accommodating population increases (by reforming regulation and from investment flowing into local infrastructure projects and making the building process more efficient, as well as workers gaining experience in building the projects).

[jwilliams]

Assuming all other variables stay the same -- with such a large revenue increase you'd assume some would be changing substantially.