Breaking the stalemate: an analysis of boom town mitigation policies

Technical Report · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6221009· OSTI ID:6221009

Ford, A

This paper poses a question of concern to boom town planners: should a town provide the public facilities required to serve the needs of the peak population if such facilities would not be fully used after the construction-related families leave town. The question is answered by exercising simulation and evaluation models developed for boom town conditions. The simulation model shows the outcome resulting from a town's decision about building the extra public facilities. Output variables of the simulation model include population, property tax rate, adequacy of public facilities, outstanding debt, housing stocks, and adequacy of retail and service facilities. The outcomes of the simulation model are evaluated with value models developed for nine public and private viewpoints from Farmington, New Mexico. The policy conclusion to be drawn from this analysis is that local viewpoints could arrive at a consensus to provide the full complement of public facilities needed at the peak of the boom as long as specific boom town policies are implemented. Most importantly, they require a dependable signal from the energy company about the size and timing of the construction workforce.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6221009
• Report Number(s): LA-7046-MS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
530100 -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Social & Economic Studies-- (-1989)
BOOM TOWNS
BUILDINGS
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
COMMUNITIES
CONSTRUCTION
EVALUATION
FINANCING
HUMAN POPULATIONS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
PLANNING
POPULATIONS
REGULATIONS
SIMULATION
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
SOUTHWEST REGION
TAXES
USA