Just as a parent picks up a used car for their teenager.. they inherit problems known or not.
Our buildings and public works infrastructure also come 'used' . Most government buildings are between 30 and 50 years old with unrecorded adaptions, electrical and telephone wiring, air conditioning, design modifications compromising functioning of any one system.
Ask any facility manager for blue prints, manuals, or records of large systems maintenance or repairs.
The tax diminishing tax base and growing constituent services and regulatory demands impact the ability to operate buildings that foster healthy and productive work force (also impacting the delivery of services). The first thing cut are - maintenance, staff.. things that are pretty much 'invisible' to the casual eye. For smaller communities cut budgets translate into loss of space- such as a sheriff's office.
To underscore how badly our infrastructure is today- and despite some gains- check out the American Society of Civil Engineers "report card" .
U.S. Infrastructure Crumbling, According to Report Card
