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Columbus has not raised the income tax in 27 years. Why is this used as an argument to vote FOR Issue 1? It is a percent, so the amount the City is bringing in should rise and fall accordingly as the population changes. With this argument, we should expect that eventually the income tax will justifiably rise to 100%.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Politics
Issue 1
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Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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Except that it doesn't.
Posted 2 years ago # -
CheeseFoodie
Harrison West
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I hate to lose city services, but as a C-bus resident, my property taxes went up with last year's school levy, etc. I just can't afford to give up another 1/2% of my income, just seems like now is the worst time to ask people to give more...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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B_C_B wrote >>
Rockmastermike wrote >>
Except that it doesn't.Explain it to me.
unfortunately, income verses expense for each citizen (holding services per citizen constant) does not remain constant as population increases if population density also decreases. Factor in the unfortunate steady decrease of revenue growth (with no corresponding slowdown of population growth) related perhaps to the gradual economic shift away from a production economy and this past years sudden upsurge in unemployment (a double edged sword since sales tax revenue drops in conjunction to income tax revenue)... and you'll find that "as population rises so does revenue" no longer holds true.
Unfortunately when revenue suddenly drops by some non-negligable%... big mess.
The easy solution is to adjust tax revenue. A harder solution is to attract businesses, which has actually been happening, but takes longer then next year's budget.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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With a week to go, now's a good time to listen to our podcast with Coleman (if you haven't already):
http://www.columbusunderground.com/interview-with-mayor-coleman-on-issue-one
;)
Posted 2 years ago # -
catnfiddle
Giant Corncob District
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I'm not telling anyone how I'm voting but I will definitely be casting a vote. Isn't that the important aspect of this whole thing? If you don't vote next week you can't complain later.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Bristol Bar
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This will be a tough vote for me. I don't want to lose services, obviously, but don't you wonder, all the trillions of taxes collected (fed, state, local, county, license fees, tolls, tickets, etc...), where do they all go? Where's the accountability? Don't we all have to do more with less?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Cookie
Flyntonville
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catnfiddle wrote >>
I'm not telling anyone how I'm voting but I will definitely be casting a vote. Isn't that the important aspect of this whole thing? If you don't vote next week you can't complain later.Can I vote for no complaining? Is it too late to start a petition for that?
Posted 2 years ago # -
David S Lewis
Columbus, OH
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B_C_B wrote >>
Columbus has not raised the income tax in 27 years. Why is this used as an argument to vote FOR Issue 1? It is a percent, so the amount the City is bringing in should rise and fall accordingly as the population changes. With this argument, we should expect that eventually the income tax will justifiably rise to 100%.I would be more supportive if the increase was temporary; that would mean that the situation had spiraled out of control, but would be rectified later, when the situation rebounded. As population ebbs and flows and the unemployment rate fluctuates (the bulk of the city's revenues come from income tax), the amount of money the city is allowed to spend should fluctuate with that...except in time of emergency, when we should be able to depend on our community to help out. But it could be temporary. Why is it permanent? Inflation? That seems the only logical reason, but it hits the citizens exactly as hard as it hits the government. Union pressure? Tough. Negotiate harder. Or is it the sudden realization that we have traditionally spent more than we brought in, exacerbated by the economic crisis? Ah...restructure, City, and at your own expense. We don't have to be comping 100% of your employees' pensions, especially when the rest of us are hurting. I don't even own a car, and I live in the hood. I already pay to recycle, and we don't even have a Living Wage in Columbus. Leave my salary alone for a minute.
That is my personal view, and not necessarily that of the people that own my publication, or work for it, etc. But that is my personal view.Posted 2 years ago # -
Core_Models
Columbus
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One argument could be that by making it permanent you are able to put excess into a rainy day fund (as has been done in the past) and that way you don't have to continually go to the voters and hope for the best in bad times (as now).
Posted 2 years ago # -
David S Lewis
Columbus, OH
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we have been supplying (and recently, depleting) the rainy day fund for years...while spending more than we make. I think a rainy day fund is something to replenish when you have a surplus, not something to build into the system.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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Sadly the rainy day fund we had was too small to do much good.
as I've said before... I suspect that if the city had a big enough rainy day fund to actually do any good you would see the following headlines in the big D and on every news channel in town:
"The mayor is sitting on huge piles of YOUR MONEY"
sad, but probably true.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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David S Lewis wrote >>
I would be more supportive if the increase was temporaryI think this tax levy could be considered just as permanent as the 18th amendment in the US constitution.
I've heard the "temporary" thing argued before, but wouldn't it be easier to roll back a tax in 2-3 years if we no longer need it instead of re-approving it in 2-3 years if we do still need it?
Posted 2 years ago # -
howatzer
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Walker wrote >>
David S Lewis wrote >>
I would be more supportive if the increase was temporaryI think this tax levy could be considered just as permanent as the 18th amendment in the US constitution.
Yeah, and just about as smart. You're kidding yourself if you think this tax is any way temporary, or will ever be repealed. The city's been spending its way into a hole, hoping for a phoenix-style expansion and revenue boom miracle for a decade. Pass the tax, get used to the new amount of revenue, then ask for another hike in the next downturn. Can we start a betting pool on that? I'd like to recoup some of my taxes....
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hael
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I was on the side of voting for this and am still leaning that way. However, after reading about what is going on in California, I wonder if the City has really made enough cuts in their budget. My own income this year is on pace to be about 45% less than last year. (sales) I've had to cut back on spending.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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howatzer wrote >>
You're kidding yourself if you think this tax is any way temporary, or will ever be repealed.I'm not saying that it's likely, just that it is possible.
I'm sure Bill Todd dreams of completely axing the Columbus income tax, but there's only so much a Bexley resident can do, right?
Posted 2 years ago # -
jawjack187
Columbus
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I would be willing to have a permanent tax if we have to wait another 27 years for an increase. 1/2% is not that much considering what we would lose if it does not go through.
Have any of you been to Detroit recently? It's a toilet, and I would hate to see Columbus looking anything like it, but that's what we face if the voters choose it.
Posted 2 years ago #
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