http://blog.paulmckeever.ca/2006/01/06/column-financial-post-fiscal-imbalance-cities-toronto/ Reality, Reason, Self, Consent, Capitalism Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:26:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://blog.paulmckeever.ca/2006/01/06/column-financial-post-fiscal-imbalance-cities-toronto/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Cam MacKay Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:48:26 +0000 http://blog.paulmckeever.ca/?p=21#comment-2 Interesting POV on property taxes. I agree that consumption taxes would certainly entertain competition between municipalities and would be much more efficient. Although I tend to see the problem with municipalities on the spending side. We have seen municipalities grow the breadth and depth of the programs they provide. Affordable housing, school lunch programs, daycare etc... many things that would be unthinkable 10 years ago. What is the scope of a municipality today? Is it to manitain civic infrastructure or is it to gnerate new social programs? Clearly I think we need a formal division of powers for municipalities so they know their scope of operations. Until we do that city budgets will continue to rise and taxes will follow. Interesting POV on property taxes. I agree that consumption taxes would certainly entertain competition between municipalities and would be much more efficient. Although I tend to see the problem with municipalities on the spending side.
We have seen municipalities grow the breadth and depth of the programs they provide. Affordable housing, school lunch programs, daycare etc… many things that would be unthinkable 10 years ago.
What is the scope of a municipality today? Is it to manitain civic infrastructure or is it to gnerate new social programs? Clearly I think we need a formal division of powers for municipalities so they know their scope of operations. Until we do that city budgets will continue to rise and taxes will follow.

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