Local tax policy : a primer / David Brunori, George Washington University.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brunori, David, author.

Contributor:

ProQuest ebook central.

Charles H. Maxson Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Local taxation--United States.

Local taxation.

United States.

Local finance--United States.

Local finance.

Intergovernmental fiscal relations--United States.

Intergovernmental fiscal relations.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Edition:

Fourth edition.

Place of Publication:

Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield, [2020]

System Details:

text file

Contents:

1 Local Tax Policy p. 1

Localism as a Normative Good p. 2

Political and Economic Constraints on Localism p. 4

The Logic of the Property Tax p. 5

A Good Tax under Siege p. 6

There Are No Alternatives to Taxing Property p. 7

Raising Revenue in the Modern Economy p. 9

Possible Solutions p. 10

2 Local Taxation and American Federalism p. 13

The Logic of Localism p. 15

Economic Efficiencies p. 15

Political Virtues p. 18

Localism and Taxing Authority p. 19

Fiscal Autonomy under Siege p. 21

3 Local Limits p. 25

The Politics of Taxation p. 25

Political Imperatives p. 27

Provide Services p. 27

Create Wealth p. 29

Avoid Redistribution p. 31

Political Biases p. 32

Tax Competition p. 32

Exporting the Tax Burden p. 33

Raising Revenue in an Era of Antitaxation p. 34

Building a Sound Local Tax System p. 36

4 The Logic of the Property Tax p. 39

Property Taxation in the United States p. 39

Virtues of the Property Tax p. 41

What Makes the Property Tax So Widely Accepted among Tax Experts? p. 41

An Old Tax p. 41

A Stable Tax p. 42

An Easy-to-Administer Tax p. 43

A Benefits Tax p. 45

A Tax That Allows Local Control p. 46

A Visible Tax p. 47

5 The Property Tax under Siege p. 49

Public Unhappiness p. 50

Visibility p. 50

Unfair Administration p. 51

Shifting Property Tax Burdens p. 51

Consequences of Public Dissatisfaction p. 52

Tax Limitations p. 52

A Proliferation of Exemptions p. 54

Economic Development Exemptions p. 54

Charitable Exemptions p. 55

Farm Relief p. 56

Government Property p. 57

Tax Relief Measures p. 57

Homestead Exemptions p. 58

Homestead Credits and Circuit Breakers p. 58

Property Tax Deferrals p. 59

The Case of School Finance p. 59

6 Local-Option Sales and Excise Taxes p. 63

Local-Option Sales Taxes p. 63

Policy Reasons for Imposing Local-Option Sales Taxes p. 64

Promotion of Local Autonomy p. 64

Administrative Efficiency p. 65

Diversification of the Tax Base p. 66

Public Acceptance p. 66

Problems with Local-Option Sales Taxes p. 67

Shrinking Tax Base p. 67

Interjurisdiction Competition p. 68

Regressivity p. 69

Reduced State Flexibility p. 69

Fiscal Disparities p. 70

Outlook for Local-Option Sales Taxes p. 70

Local-Option Excise Taxes p. 71

Lodging Taxes p. 71

Meals Taxes p. 72

Fuel Excise Taxes p. 72

Local-Option Real Estate Transfer Taxes p. 73

Local-Option Tobacco Taxes p. 73

7 Income and Business Taxes p. 77

Local-Option Income and Wage Taxes p. 77

Policy Issues around Taxing Income and Wages p. 79

Visibility and Accountability p. 79

Economic Efficiency p. 79

Revenue Growth and Diversification p. 80

Fairness p. 80

Fiscal Disparities p. 81

Taxing Commuters or Exporting Tax Burdens p. 82

Intergovernmental Issues p. 82

Political Bias p. 83

Local-Option Business Taxes p. 84

Local-Option Business Income Taxes p. 85

Gross Receipts/License Taxes p. 85

Business Personal Property Taxes p. 86

Payroll Taxes p. 87

Outlook for Business Taxes p. 88

8 Nontax Revenue Options p. 91

Intergovernmental Aid p. 91

Policy Justifications for Intergovernmental Aid p. 92

Problems with Intergovernmental Ad p. 93

Unreliability p. 93

Less Autonomy p. 95

Efficiency p. 95

Consequences for Local Tax Policy p. 96

User Fees and Charges p. 96

Policy Reasons for Imposing Charges p. 98

Economic Efficiency p. 98

Diversification of Revenue Sources p. 99

Local Control p. 99

Problems with Imposing Charges p. 99

Limitations on Revenue Growth p. 99

Fairness Concerns p. 100

Outlook for User Fees p. 100

Utilities and Other Service-for-Fee Enterprises p. 101

9 Financing Local Government in a Global Economy p. 103

Globalism p. 104

Technological Advances p. 106

Deregulation p. 107

An Aging Population p. 108

Tax Policy in the New Economy p. 110

10 A Blueprint for Strengthening the Property Tax p. 113

Challenges to Local Tax Policy and Political Autonomy p. 113

Recommendations for Strengthening Local Tax Autonomy p. 115

Educate the Public on the Virtues of the Property Tax p. 116

Ease the Excesses of the Property Tax Revolts p. 118

Protect and Expand the Property Tax Base p. 120

Address the Problems of School Finance Equalization p. 121

Adopt a Split-Rate Property Tax System p. 122.

Notes:

First edition 2003.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI Available via World Wide Web.

Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on August 07, 2019).

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Charles H. Maxson Fund.

Other Format:

Print version: Brunori, David, author. Local tax policy

ISBN:

9781538131176

153813117X

Publisher Number:

99982874173

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.