I just did a walk audit with the city. I learned 3 things:
1. Cities in Mass can only raise their costs by 2.5% a year, below inflation, by state law. You don't get to control your own budget, not even if all the infrastructure is crumbling.
2. The city cannot move USPS boxes, even if they end up in the middle of the road due to a road/sidewalk redesign.
3. If the city line cuts through your house, the location of your bed, more precisely, the head of the bed, define which city you pay taxes to.
Gotta love public works.
