What sources of revenue have replaced the property taxes that cities used to depend on to finance their operations, such as providing public services?

What will be an ideal response?

Today, cities depend on sales taxes; builder/developer fees; service charges for public utilities, services, and transit; a variety of taxes on hotels, businesses, and property; and state and federal funds transfers/grants. Typically, bonds provide almost the same amount of funding that cities derive from property taxes. Students might also note that in tough economic years when the state "raids" the property tax funds, cities must raise fees, or force others (e.g., builders and developers) to bear the costs of providing new infrastructure, such as roads and schools--and these are typically passed on to new homeowners in the form of "Mello-Roos" fees.