First find how much the rail project will increase the house value by multiplying the initial value by 25%: $400,000 * .25 = $<<400000*.25=100000>>100,000

Then add that amount to the initial value to find the new value: $100,000 + $400,000 = $<<100000+400000=500000>>500,000

Then divide the maximum amount of property tax Jenny can afford to pay by the property tax rate to find the maximum value her house can have: $15,000 / .02 = $<<15000/.02=750000>>750,000

Now subtract the house's value after the rail project from the maximum value to find how much value the improvements can have: $750,000 - $500,000 = $<<750000-500000=250000>>250,000

# Answer

250000
<|im_start|>system
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<|im_start|>user
Jenny's property tax rate is 2%. Her house is currently worth $400,000. The city is about to build a new high-speed rail project nearby, which will increase her house's value by 25%. Jenny can only afford to spend $15,000/year on property tax. How many dollars worth of improvements can she make to her house before her property tax bill gets too high?
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user
250000
Jenny's property tax rate is 2%. Her house is currently worth $400,000. The city is about to build a new high-speed rail project nearby, which will increase her house's value by 25%. Jenny can only afford to spend $15,000/year on property tax. How many dollars worth of improvements can she make to her house before her property tax bill gets too high?
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