Quote:
Originally Posted by wwmiv
Are you distinguishing between state and local property here? Municipal buildings are never nice, because they don't have as large a tax base as states.
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No, I am not distinguishing between state and local. I was discussing my experiences in both environments. Government run buildings in most of the jurisdictions where I have lived are not well maintained. The exception is for most Federal properties. DC enjoyed ample revenue from the Feds when I lived there, but they also had a municipal payroll (courtesy of Marion Barry) of almost 50,000 souls who mostly did nothing to earn their keep. I can assure you that they were not concerned with keeping municipal buildings there in tip top shape. Other cities where I have lived followed a similar path. LA City Hall and SF City Hall, two magnificent buildings, were falling apart until they received post earthquake renovations in the late 1990s. They'll probably be in rough shape again before too very long. State office buildings in California and Maryland were dirty and many had plumbing and roofing problems. I just don't think the liberal/conservative dichotomy has much relevance in this discussion. Governments pinch pennies where they think they can get away with it.