Local tax? There's no need!

17/12/2006

There has been discussion on TV regarding replacement of Council Tax.  This is founded upon the false premise that there needs to be a local Tax. There does not! Local Tax was supposedly raised to obtain local accountability.
 
Modernly, 80% + of local spending is already funded by central government.  Central Government and Regional Assemblies now determine how resources are to be allocated.  Even refuse collection is determined by a Parliament Environment Act - with targets - under direction of a French Wheelie Bin Millionaire.
 
There will never be a fair way to obtain local tax - the closest was old style rates, and even that was unfair in many cases.  If there is any kind of local tax it will have collection costs.  For the lower paid this is an expenditure they could do without and in many cases there are Court costs attached to this unneccessary imposition.
 
The answer is to fund everything from central funds.  The lost tax could be obtained by across the board taxation, semi selectively, and certainly painlessly!
 
But the idea that a Local Tax is necessary (for pseudo democracy) will take an awful lot of effort to erase!
 
Jack Biggs