stevensfo wrote:Thus, they will keep basic rate income tax the same, while yet again pushing more onto local authorities, increasing council tax, continuing to freeze allowances (stealth tax) and putting up duty taxes. Councils in turn will make more services as 'extras' that need to be paid for outside council tax, perhaps council tips, wheelie bins, maintenance within a distance of dwellings?
In 1978 California voters passed a state proposition (Prop 13) that significantly capped the ability of local authorities to raise taxes, particularly property taxes which are the equivalent of council tax here.
California went on to apply a huge range of "user fees" for services that were previously free. So for example everyone there pays for rubbish bin removal, which can cost $1,000 to $2,000 a year. Renewing a driving license (needed every 5 years) costs $70. And so on.
Now maybe people should pay for rubbish removal - it is a time-consuming and complicated process after all. But paying for things that used to be "free" is probably the way forward. The biggies would be paying for healthcare and school, of course. Oh, and those "free" public libraries?