Tight Budgets and the Need to Plan

Which of these families most needs to plan its family commitments and related budget items? Family 1:  Wife is a bankruptcy lawyer whose business is booming; husband is an executive at a growing wind-energy company and has just received a nice raise, paid out of growing profits.  The kids are grown.  The couple's two Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are very healthy. Family 2:  Wife is a plant manager for a U.S.-owned automobile company, facing mandatory unpaid time off this year; husband is a travel agent who sells high-end vacation packages to school teachers, planners and other middle-income individuals and families.  Son has graduated from college but cannot find a job and is living at home and working part-time at a burger place.  Daughter will be a college junior next year at an institution that has had its funding cut by the state and has thus announced a 15 percent tuition increase.

2 minute read

April 23, 2009, 7:05 AM PDT

By Eric Damian Kelly


Which of these families most needs to plan its family commitments and related budget items?

Family 1:  Wife is a bankruptcy lawyer whose business is booming; husband is an executive at a growing wind-energy company and has just received a nice raise, paid out of growing profits.  The kids are grown.  The couple's two Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are very healthy.

Family 2:  Wife is a plant manager for a U.S.-owned automobile company, facing mandatory unpaid time off this year; husband is a travel agent who sells high-end vacation packages to school teachers, planners and other middle-income individuals and families.  Son has graduated from college but cannot find a job and is living at home and working part-time at a burger place.  Daughter will be a college junior next year at an institution that has had its funding cut by the state and has thus announced a 15 percent tuition increase.

When applied to a family, the answer to this question is obvious.  When applied to a small business, the answer seems equally obvious.  When the scenario arises for a city or county, however, many people do not even recognize the question implicit in the facts.  In this difficult fiscal time for most local governments, it is important that we remind public officials that "we cannot afford not to plan."  It is also important that we, as planners, ensure that our planning advice and strategies recognize and assist our local governments in dealing with difficult economic time.  As I often tell audiences of planning commissioners, planning is in some ways a liberal agenda -- reaching out to those who lack power, ensuring that short-term decisions take account of long-term consequences for the environment and the earth, providing new opportunities for struggling communities.  It is, however, ultimately also a conservative activity -- ensuring that we effectively and efficiently allocate scarce resources.  


Eric Damian Kelly

Eric Damian Kelly is a Professor of Urban Planning at Ball State University, where he previously served as the Dean of the College of Architecture and Planning and as acting chair of his department. He is also a vice president of Duncan Associates, through which he maintains a limited professional practice. Kelly is a native of Colorado who holds a B.A. with honors in political economy from Williams College, Juris Doctor and Master of City Planning degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from The Union Institute.

courses user

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges. Corey D, Transportation Planner

As someone new to the planning field, Planetizen has been the perfect host guiding me into planning and our complex modern challenges.

Corey D, Transportation Planner

Ready to give your planning career a boost?

Broken, uneven sidewalk being damaged by large tree roots in Los Angeles, California.

The City of Broken Sidewalks

Can Los Angeles fix 4,000 miles of broken sidewalks before the city hosts the 2028 Olympic Games?

December 5, 2024 - Donald Shoup

Large store in mall with yellow and black STORE CLOSING sign on front.

Shifts in Shopping: Transforming Malls Into Parks

Maybe zombie malls still have a second life — one with a little greenery.

December 8, 2024 - Ruscena Wiederholt

Empty street and high-rise buildings in downtown Chicago, Illinois during COvid-19 pandemic.

Major US Cities Still Suffering Downtown Decline

Research shows that the “donut effect” hollowing out central business districts since the pandemic continues to cause economic decline in the 12 largest American cities.

December 3, 2024 - Stanford University News

Heavy traffic on freeway in San Diego, California.

Why Traffic Never Gets Better

Despite abundant research showing that roadway expansions provide limited congestion relief and increase long-term traffic problems, they still occur due to wishful thinking: advocates claim that “this” project is different.

7 hours ago - Greater Greater Washington

Trolley bus in San Francisco, California.

San Francisco Tops ‘Urban Mobility Readiness’ List

An annual analysis of global cities assesses public transit, technology, and sustainability.

December 12 - Bloomberg CityLab

Cyclist on folding bike riding next to silver car on city street.

Bike-Mounted Sensor Could Improve Safety for Cyclists

A new camera technology can detect when vehicles pass too close to people on bikes.

December 12 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Write for Planetizen