The city manager in Greensboro today is quoted as saying that he may have to recommend a property-tax increase this summer to preserve “existing services” because of the weak economic growth in the area. Of course, you’ll recall that rapid growth is frequently cited by cities and counties as creating the need for tax increases to keep up with escalating service demands.

Grow, and you must be taxed. Don’t grow, and you must be taxed. (I wrote more about this phenomenon here.)