@DavidB @cjd Surely there's another option besides "leave city in ruins" vs "borrow or print more money". Prudently keeping cash reserves for such an event would make sense, as would emergency responses and such. I don't take any issue with prudent taxation for purpose of establishing emergency repair funds and the like, even at the local level if needed. Ideally, build stuff in such a way that earthquakes can't wreck your city. But stuff happens. I also am not opposed to fiat on principle, but I recognize that it's a Pandora's box and is a very easy tool to become overly comfortable with.