Comments on: Restoring Fiscal Health at the Local Level http://www.frumforum.com/restoring-fiscal-health-at-the-local-level Building a conservatism that can win again Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:50:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Danny_K http://www.frumforum.com/restoring-fiscal-health-at-the-local-level/comment-page-1#comment-79256 Danny_K Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:31:06 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=19401#comment-79256 I don't think ordinary taxpayers make such a distinction as you propose: if government raises fees for ordinary services, it feels like another tax. Here in Washington State, our local anti-tax guy Tim Eyman has had more success attacking increases in car tab fees than in cutting taxes directly. Not so simple a solution, and also severely regressive, since more expensive car tabs impact the poor much more than the rich. I don’t think ordinary taxpayers make such a distinction as you propose: if government raises fees for ordinary services, it feels like another tax. Here in Washington State, our local anti-tax guy Tim Eyman has had more success attacking increases in car tab fees than in cutting taxes directly. Not so simple a solution, and also severely regressive, since more expensive car tabs impact the poor much more than the rich.

]]> By: Claude http://www.frumforum.com/restoring-fiscal-health-at-the-local-level/comment-page-1#comment-79249 Claude Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:39:04 +0000 http://www.frumforum.com/?p=19401#comment-79249 A couple of points: 1. I don't think it's accurate to call property taxes "volatile." Local governments can and do resist lowering assessments to match the decline in property values. It's local governments that depend on sales or income taxes who are facing the biggest revenue declines. 2. I don't know if there's really much money to be saved in cutting athletics. High school football generates considerable revenue, and not just in rural Texas. The "superjocks" can count on the parents of band members and cheerleaders to support them. And then there's people who will make the childhood obesity argument. Probably not a smart political fight. 3. One additional idea to help the fiscal management of local governments - don't treat city and county lines as sacrosanct. There's money to be saved in different jurisdictions sharing or consolidating services. Or conversely, if a local government seems to be hopelessly inefficient, give citizens the ability to split a county or incorporate a new city. A couple of points:

1. I don’t think it’s accurate to call property taxes “volatile.” Local governments can and do resist lowering assessments to match the decline in property values. It’s local governments that depend on sales or income taxes who are facing the biggest revenue declines.

2. I don’t know if there’s really much money to be saved in cutting athletics. High school football generates considerable revenue, and not just in rural Texas. The “superjocks” can count on the parents of band members and cheerleaders to support them. And then there’s people who will make the childhood obesity argument. Probably not a smart political fight.

3. One additional idea to help the fiscal management of local governments – don’t treat city and county lines as sacrosanct. There’s money to be saved in different jurisdictions sharing or consolidating services. Or conversely, if a local government seems to be hopelessly inefficient, give citizens the ability to split a county or incorporate a new city.

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