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Home >> GMAT >> Essays >> Essay - 76
The following appeared in the editorial section of a local newspaper.
�This city should be able to improve existing services and provide new ones
without periodically raising the taxes of the residents. Instead, the city should
require that the costs of services be paid for by developers who seek approval for
their large new building projects. After all, these projects can be highly profitable to
the developers, but they can also raise a city�s expenses and increase the demand
for its services.�
Discuss how well reasoned... etc.( )
In this editorial the author argues that improvements to existing city services as well as new services should be paid for by developers
rather than by taxpayers. In support of this opinion the author points out that developers can make large profits from building projects
and that these projects increase the demand for city services and raise the city�s expenses, I disagree with the author�s opinion for two
reasons.
First, the fact that developers stand to make profits from their projects is not a good reason to require them to pay more than their
fair share of the costs of services. In fact, to require them to do this in order to win approval of their projects is tantamount to
robbery. City officials would find it difficult to justify a policy that endorsed this practice. Moreover, the adoption of such a practice
would discourage the development of new buildings in the city.
Second, the increase in demand for city services as well as the increase in the city�s expenses will be most likely offset by the tax
revenues these projects generate. Consequently, unless the author can demonstrate that the city will incur expenses that are not covered
by the increased revenues from these projects, the author�s concern about these issues is unfounded.
In conclusion, I find the author�s reasoning on this issue unconvincing. To strengthen the argument the author would have to show that
the city would be harmed financially by approving new building projects.
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