Growth

Growth is what politics in Killeen is really about.  If there were not competing interests trying to profit from the seemingly inevitable growth of our region, we wouldn't have much to talk about.

There are, of course, many aspects of the problem.

• Do we have a choice other than expanding south? 
• How far south can we expand? 
• Is there water available?
• How are we going to treat the sewage, and where will the effluent flow?
• What's the infrastructure going to cost? 
• Should we try to absorb our neighboring political entities? 
• How much should we borrow given the uncertainty of military funding in upcoming years? 
• What are the disincentives that will ultimately limit growth and how can we limit them?  And should we?
• What are good ways of building the job and tax bases?  Are we overemphasizing some ways and under-funding others?
• What are the right levels of funding for police? Fire protection? Libraries?
• Do we continue the traditional "You want to build something?  We'll change the zoning" policy or implement real land use planning?
• If we have real zoning, do we zone for the elite?  Should there be areas of the city set aside for the well-off?

And those are just the tip of the iceberg.  I forecast interesting days ahead.