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A Surprise From Rhode Island: Daring to Change Taxes to Help Everybody
Go Ask ALICE: A Progressive Resource for model legislation deploys LVT models.
Support in Connecticut for Land Value Taxation
Taking it to the People: Land Value Tax vote set for May 7th in Lanesborough, Massachusetts
LVT moving through CT?

Most Popular Posts

Noted UK Think Tank: Tax Land Values
Eliminating the property tax? It must not happen, but we’ll see what happens.
Altoona, PA: City tax wholly on land values = normality
Dr. Herbert Barry's Proposal to Really Reassess Allegheny County
How to mend the Property Tax

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Incentive Taxation

A Surprise From Rhode Island: Daring to Change Taxes to Help Everybody

HOPE

Rhode Island is a small place of many charms. Its history is stirring, its connection to the oceans enriching, and the culture is a wonderful mix of Portuguese, French Canadian, Asian, and other cultures – and cuisines – that make Little Rhody a delight to visit.
Living and working there is not so easy though.  Population isin long-term declineand business is contracting.  The ironically named“Superman Building” has lost its last tenantand the crown jewel of Providence’s skyline will be a looming reminder everyday that something has to be done, but what?

Go Ask ALICE: A Progressive Resource for model legislation deploys LVT models.







ALICE: Legislation for the rest of us

Some years ago, noted journalist and public servant, Walter Rybeckworked with Bill Filante, a California GOP State Senator to prepare and disseminate model legislation to enact land value taxation.  The venue at that time was ALEC, which at the time prepared legislation with a conservative and free market bent, much in line with GOP philosophy at the time (ALEChas changed quite a bit since the 1980s, and the entry has disappeared.)

Now, there’s an active group providing Progressive model legislation.

Support in Connecticut for Land Value Taxation

By Johanna Somers Day Staff, Publication: The Day
Published 05/09/2013 12:00 AM
 
But Finizio, who took office in 2011, said that if New London were chosen to participate this time, he would focus on the downtown area and exempt waterfront properties and large lots.
"I support it because I believe it will remove one of the largest disincentives to revitalization in downtown New London," Finizio said Tuesday.
 
The LVT proposal is one idea that working group chairman, state Rep. Jeffrey Berger, D-Waterbury, said he would like to see passed this session.

Taking it to the People: Land Value Tax vote set for May 7th in Lanesborough, Massachusetts


One of the best traditions still in existence from the earliest days of the American experiment are the true exercises in democracy known astown meetings.  














The road to Massachusetts land value tax may run through Lanesborough.

As Henry David Thoreauwrote:

"I am more and more convinced that, with reference to any public question, it is more important to know what the country thinks of it than what the city thinks. The city does not think much.

LVT moving through CT?

Our team was on the move this week throughout the State of CT. The Municipal Tax Authority Working Group Meeting of April 2, 2013 provides a glimpse of the work CSE is involved in at this time Video of the meeting

The Economist returns to Its roots (most often found in land)















Glasgow: time to stop the private warehousing of land

In 1843, a newspaper named"The Economist"came into being with amission that promisedto discuss and promote ideas of fair trade, liberal economics, free markets and issues of taxation and rent. 

Astoundingly, the Economist stuck to its mission, more or less, although one may - and one does - quibble with its flirtations withflailing neo-classical economics, coupled with some infatuation with permanent Keynesianism.

Land Value Tax: The 2013 Rates are in!



















Three Cheers for Pennsylvania Land Value Tax Cities


Because UrbanTools is in Pennsylvania, it should be no surprise that land value tax is most prevalent in the Keystone state. We work all over the country in the world, but Pennsylvania is still "home."  We've been proud to work with these communities, and are grateful that the outcomes have had positive effects and have helped people through hard economic times.

Philadelphia's New Real Estate Values: Land Value Tax to Cure AVI Blues?





















No More either/Or: What's Philadelphia worth?


For years Philadelphia Pennsylvania has been an outlier among American cities (and internationally) for its menu ofstrange taxes on business andonerous levieson residents that have savage effects upon the local economy.  For years, people who think about tax issues have proposed over and over again reducing reliance on these corrosive and self-destructive levies, that have driven jobs and capital out of the city squeezing the traditional middle class in particular.

The Oregon Trail...To land value taxation
















The expansion of land value tax from its bases in Pennsylvania cities and jurisdictions all over Australia and New Zealand, may have just taken a strong step forward in the state of Oregon, where LVT advocates have been studying the legalities and thepractical administrative steps to implementationof the past decade.  

The Salem Statesman Journal published acomprehensive policy pieceby Kris Nelson ofCommon Ground OR/WAandTom Girhing . The op-ed provides solid theoretical underpinnings and empirical reality to make the case that Oregon cities, and indeed the whole Northwest have to join their Red State brethren and find ways to reduce traditional property taxes on labor and investment as well as pull back on taxation of wages.

2013 legislative update: Land Value Tax Legislation Introduced in Connecticut

Connecticut's 2013 General Assembly meets for a six month session in January.  Odd-numbered years generally concentrate on local laws and statutes for municipalities and relations with the state government in the so-called "long sessions." 






This month, several bills have been introduced to permit municipalitiesflexibilityin how and what they tax, as wellas specific language permitting a municipality to enact land value tax.  The sponsors are led by the New Haven Connecticut legislative delegation.