Council Tax-An unworkable idea

[Porty]

Or at least I think it is.

I wondered if a scheme could be developed where people traded their labour or skills to offset council tax? The idea being to perform tasks that would normally be done by council employees or create new tasks or services that would benefit the city.

This would engender more respect for the council and its property, benefit the environment, create a sense of well-being and so on. Maybe it could cross over into the health service?

On the other hand it may prove a nightmare with the unions. Is this too far fetched.

[seanie]

Maybe it could cross over into the health service?

I've always fancied a shot at brain surgery.

Where do I sign up?

[Bob Jefferson]

In exchange for not paying Council Tax, I would like to help run a community website.

[Cleopas]

If I didn't have to pay Council Tax, I'd help by being a removal person, getting ugly people off the beach in Summer.

[ali]

I'm in favour of a local income tax. Those that earn an income should pay for local services. It's unreasonable to expect those on fixed or low incomes to pay.

I'm dubious as to whether the council tax encourages local accountability which is one of the arguments put forward in its favour.

The real solution would either be a local sales tax (as in the USA) or just fund local services via block grants to councils from central government with the money from general taxation.

[seanie]

About 70% of LA revenue comes from central government. If it were all funded that way there'd be even less local accountability.

I'd lean towards a local income tax. Sales tax is regressive.

[bearcub]

I'm in favour of a local income tax. Those that earn an income should pay for local services. It's unreasonable to expect those on fixed or low incomes to pay.

Same here, seems the fairest system to me. I know it's been said that it's too complicated and expensive to run - but I don't see why.

[Maria]

I'd lean towards a local income tax.

I was at University back in the days when there was a grant system and was amazed at some of the fairly well off folk I knew who either got full grants or had very small parental contributions levied. It often came down to Daddy having a good accountant.

IMO any sort of means tested scheme would be expensive to administer and would not necessarily result in an equitable system.

[ali]

About 70% of LA revenue comes from central government. If it were all funded that way there'd be even less local accountability.

What evidence is there that the council tax delivers real accountability?

[seanie]

What do you mean by "real"?

The mechanism for accountability is the democratic process whereby the electorate periodically pass judgement on their local politicians. That's unlikely to change regardless of how LA's are funded.

But as things stand raising (a small) part of revenue locally offers a degree of local flexibility.

If central government dispersed all the cash they'd be the ones deciding how much to disperse and local variations, concerns and choices would be more constrained.

[seanie]

IMO any sort of means tested scheme would be expensive to administer and would not necessarily result in an equitable system.

Income tax is a pretty straightforward tax to administer. It's already a major part of our current tax system. Local income tax would require variation in the tax deductible depending on where people live.

That doesn't strike me as a significant administrative burden.