Africa Asia Australia Business Canada Central Am. In dealing with state government this year, Virginia localities are encountering problems well known to any businessperson in partnership with a drunk. Necessary tasks are unaccountably delayed. Promises are broken.
Planning is difficult or impossible because of the other party's unpredictability.
Eventually, customers become angry. Or in the case of cities and counties, residents become angry, as services decline or local taxes rise. For example, a factor in Suffolk's need to raise taxes is the state's unpredictability this year. At the moment, state government cannot agree on whether it should pay 55 percent or 70 percent of this year's car taxes. As a result, localities can't be certain what amounts to charge on residents' car tax bills, soon to be mailed.