Comments on: Taking a Stab at “Tax Stacking”

By: southkc

southkc — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:04:12 +0000

In Kansas City cid taxes are being imposed at most shopping centers to pay for operating expenses(snow removal,landscaping, cutting the grass,etc.) these are not for public benefit. I have no problem with tdd because the road becomes public property and everyone benefits. While cids are using public taxing power for a private revenue stream. I can not understand how this is not violation of the Hancock Admendment. When the businesses petition city hall and city hall imposes a sales without a vote of citizens.

By: vroman

vroman — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:21:09 +0000

ok, regardless of whether TIF type operations are beneficial (I maintain they are more good than bad), this is not really the concern caitlin brings up, which is what about the poor little townie govts that are having their revenue generation hamstrung by statewide tax caps. if the town govt cant fund all their desired operations w reduced budget, they need to cut services, or find more efficient ways to conduct business. if the town residents REALLY wanted these things, but mogov wont let them be taxed that highly, they could write a check voluntarily to their local fire dept.

By: David Stokes

David Stokes — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:39:10 +0000

Transportation Development Districts (TDDs) and the above referenced CIDs can be worthwhile but they indeed are fraught with risk, mostly involving a lack of transparency and accountability. Thanks for the comments, southkc.

I have done more research on TDDs than CIDs, but they do have a positive side. A TDD is a way for the people who choose to use an entity, like a new store, to pay for that asset’s accessability. However, as the state auditor has documented, far too often the extra TDD tax is hidden among other taxes and fees and the people paying it have no idea they are doing so. The laws requiring TDDs to carefully disclose and account for what they do need to be strictly enforced. I would assume I feel the same way about CIDs.

By: southkc

southkc — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:08:20 +0000

the sales taxes are in community improvement districts.

By: southkc

southkc — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:06:51 +0000

he should look into how sales taxes are imposed on citizens without a vote. these are being used for private benefit.

By: Eric D. Dixon

Eric D. Dixon — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:13:21 +0000

David, Vroman's position hasn't changed since we discussed a similar topic in the comments last fall...

By: David Stokes

David Stokes — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:16:00 +0000

Thank God the state caps the ability of cities to impose taxes. Local control is not automatically good in every area of government. Without state limits, we would have more and higher sales and property taxes throughout Missouri, and probably more, and higher, earnings taxes, too.

By: David Stokes

David Stokes — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:14:02 +0000

Even when those lower taxes involve lower taxes for some but not others via a heavy dose of central planning in some city economic development office?

By: vroman

vroman — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:10:06 +0000

I support lower taxes anywhere, for anyone, by any means