Infrastructure
The physical assets that support city operations and resident quality of life — roads, bridges, water mains, sewer systems, buildings, and technology systems.
How It Works
Infrastructure spending includes both maintenance of existing assets and construction of new assets. The American Society of Civil Engineers consistently grades U.S. infrastructure at C- or D+, reflecting decades of underinvestment. Deferred maintenance is a common budget strategy that saves money today but creates larger costs in the future — fixing a pothole costs $50, while reconstructing a deteriorated road costs $5,000+ per foot.
Related Terms
- Capital Budget — The portion of a city budget dedicated to long-term infrastructure investments like buildings, roads, vehicles, and technology systems.
- Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) — A multi-year planning document that schedules and prioritizes major infrastructure projects — roads, buildings, utilities, and equipment.
- Deferred Maintenance — Maintenance and repairs that are postponed to save money in the current budget year — creating a backlog of unfunded repair needs that grows over time.
About This Definition
This definition is part of the CitySpend Municipal Finance Glossary — 59 terms explaining how city governments fund and manage public services. All definitions are written in plain language for taxpayers, journalists, students, and municipal bond investors.