Beware the 'windfall' of early tax payments

I see Maria Pappas says that the early payment of over $500 million is a tremendous windfall to the local governments. I can assure you that the one thing the influx of money is not is a windfall. It is a prepayment of money due and probably already spent by your local government. I would not be surprised if the local politicians treat it as a windfall, i.e., an unexpected bonus or unearned supply of money. Therefore, do not be the least bit surprised at all the hand-wringing when they spend all the "windfall" and find themselves short when the second installment falls due and no new money comes in.

Jim Sather

Geneva