Reforming infrastructure financing with 2020 vision

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) estimated America's infrastructure maintenance backlog at $1.6 trillion, which had risen to $2.2 trillion. The US will add 100 million people faster than any other country on the planet except India and Pakistan, and perhaps even China. The problem with our current system of financing new and maintaining existing infrastructure is that, for the most part, there is no dedicated, predictable funding source for either purpose. Likewise, public facilities and services could be moved from a general tax approach to assessment or fees. If this can be done, people would consume only that amount of infrastructure needed to meet their needs, and infrastructure provision would be efficient. If development pays its full cost, land use patterns will be efficient. Unfortunately, under the current taxing schemes in most American local governments, less costly development pays the same capital and maintenance costs as more costly development.