Cost & Benefits of Lead Control

A recent study published in the Environmental Health Perspectives shows the costs and benefits of lead control, typically done through lead paint hazard control. The effects of lead paint on young children can be severe, leading to problems with health and behavior which, unfortunately, can lead to problems with crime. You can find the sad history of lead paint here.

In the study, it calculates that the conservative estimate of benefit from lead reduction would be approximately $192.38 billion with the total cost being $11.02 billion with the net benefit being $181.37 billion. That's a ratio of 1-17; every $1 spent brings $17 in benefits eventually through reduced costs. The optimistic estimate has a net benefit of $269.23 billion with a ratio of 1-221!!! Now, I'm no financial wizard, but even I can tell that a return of 221 is a good investment! This seems like a no-brainer-spend money on lead paint control now, save money on health, educational & crime later.

Unfortunately, the way our system is set up, we don't see school systems, health care providers and potential future crime victims paying for lead paint removal. Instead, much of the lead control is done through underfunded government programs.

A new way for communities to increase dollars toward lead control is to use the recent inclusion of the Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) extension authority in the state budget. This now allows communities to use an additional year of TIF toward housing (including lead control).