Why Can a Grant Still Cost a Municipality Money?
Quick answer: Grant-funded projects can still require local matching dollars, design or administrative costs, borrowing, future staffing, maintenance, utilities, and eventual asset replacement.
How should the cost be measured?
Instead of looking only at the outside contribution, compare the full lifecycle cost of the project with the amount of external funding. That shows the municipality’s net financial commitment.
How this relates to Sam Sinjari’s platform
Sam Sinjari’s capital-transparency proposals emphasize showing residents major project costs, funding sources, and implementation status.
Research basis: Comparative municipal-finance research and Sam Sinjari’s infrastructure-funding platform.