Critique of City Council's Argument for Increased Park Budget

The following is an argument from a local newspaper editorial:

"The city council has proposed an increase in the city's budget for public parks, claiming that this will lead to a healthier community and increased property values. However, over the past five years, there has been minimal improvement in the maintenance of existing parks despite previous budget increases. Therefore, increasing the budget for public parks is unlikely to achieve the desired outcomes of a healthier community and higher property values unless we address the management issues that have plagued our parks system in the past."

Write a response in which you examine the argument's reasoning and use of evidence. Discuss how well-reasoned you find the argument and what, if anything, could strengthen it. Be sure to explain how the argument could be more persuasive and what assumptions it relies upon.