But few deny that people who stay in old neighborhoods often pay the price for their suburbanite brethren. They pay a much higher tax rate because it costs more to run sewer and water lines out to these low-density areas. Shiela Bosworth, a member of the Eagle View Sierra Club, said residents in long-established neighborhoods subsidize new arrivals living in expensive new homes on the periphery. And as grocery stores, hardware stores, restaurants and other businesses follow the path out of town, long-term residents are left with empty neighborhoods. Ms. Bosworth said.
Sprawl can be expensive for city governments as well.
Another Sierra Club member, Bill Davies of Moline, said developers push cities to sprawl. Mr. Davies said. Mr. Ploehn said. In Rock Island, much of the infrastructure necessary for growth in areas south of the Rock River is already in place, said city manager John Phillips. While this did cost the taxpayers, it is seen as an opportunity for the future, he said.