Jacksonivlle #6 Most TAX-Friendly City

[stjr]

#6 seems to be Jax's number lately.  From #6, most UNhappy to #6 most Tax-Friendly (in spite of the complaints our taxes are still too high).  Maybe there is a correlation between this and why we don't have money to fund education and social services that makes us the most UNhappy:

Top 10 Tax-Friendly Cities
Sunday, March 1, 2009
provided by Kiplinger

It's not what you earn, it's what you keep that often dictates your standard of living. With that in mind, take this quick tour of the ten cities in the nation that have the lowest overall tax burden. These cities came out on top (er, at the bottom, really) of the 2007-2008 District of Columbia survey of state and local tax burdens for the largest city in each state, plus D.C.

Tax rankings are based on 2007 tax return computations for a two-income couple earning $75,000 with one school age child. The real property tax is a function of housing values, real estate tax rates, assessment levels, homeowner exemptions and credits. The auto tax figure assumes the couple owns two cars and is based on the estimated registration fees, state and local gasoline taxes, and personal property taxes, if any.

No. 6 Jacksonville, Florida

Income tax: $0
Property tax: $2,456
Sales tax: $1,284
Auto tax: $195

STATE & LOCAL TAX BURDEN: 5.2%

Urban Facts: The state intangibles tax on certain investments was repealed in 2007.

Jacksonville is the third-most populous city on the East Coast, after New York City and Philadelphia. (Other cities such as Boston, Washington, D.C., and Miami have larger metropolitan area populations.)

Here is the link: http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/106691/Top-10-Tax-Friendly-Cities

[Charles Hunter]

Yup.  And we are getting what we are (not) paying for - crumbling infrastructure, too few cops and fire fighters, schools in chaos, and so on.  If I were CEO of a large corporation looking to relocate, and had a workforce of people with families, I the crappy state of education in this state and area, and the lack of other services, would overbalance the low tax rate our corporate-owned council and legislature tout as The Way to get companies to relocate here.

[fatcat]

if you look at with whom we are in league, you will find the low tax burden may not be that great after all. I am not for tax increase, I just wish the public service is not suffered as bad as Jacksonville. Why not let them open up casino? I think this is a vice most people can tolerate. What is the point to let the money fly to Vegas?

[stjr]

....take this quick tour of the ten cities in the nation that have the lowest overall tax burden. These cities came out on top (er, at the bottom, really) of the 2007-2008 District of Columbia survey of state and local tax burdens for the largest city in each state, plus D.C.

In light of the recent discussion of our property tax millage rate, maybe those against higher taxes would do well to remember this comparison to cities in all 50 states and D.C.  I suspect we would look just as "good" if the list was expanded to include multiple cites in every state.

[mtraininjax]

Great numbers, they show that the sales tax is far too low. Increase the sales taxes. I am all for taxes, but everyone in the city needs to pay for them, not just the property owners.

[stjr]

Great numbers, they show that the sales tax is far too low. Increase the sales taxes. I am all for taxes, but everyone in the city needs to pay for them, not just the property owners.

I don't have a problem with raising the sales tax because I prefer to tax consumption over savings.  However, several issues with it would need to be overcome.  First, it tends to be regressive, taxing the lower incomes disproportionately to higher incomes.  Second, a huge number of loopholes (not ones on basic necessities) need to be eliminated to make it more equitable and effective.  Third, to be a net revenue gainer, the state needs to aggressively collect sales taxes on internet and mail order purchases or people will just increase such buying and hurt local business while depriving the state and city of increased revenue. Fourth, the City can't raise sales taxes or apply them to the operating budget unless it's allowed under state law which it currently isn't.

The City's problem with the above is all of these issues are controlled by the state legislature and governor and these folks currently in Tallahassee refuse to put this issue on the table.  Until we have new and progressive leaders, the City is stuck with the only real option they can "control" which is property taxes (and fees).  And, as we all know, even there, the legislature and governor stepped in and removed most "local control" causing much of the City's current revenue problems.

You really need to take your complaints to Tallahassee as they have successfully taken effective control over our City's budget.  Another "bait and switch" courtesy of Crist, Bush, and Rubio.

[mtraininjax]

I know that the sales tax issue is controlled in Tallahassee. I am really hoping that Art Graham can show some balls when he beats Aaron Bean for Jim King's old seat. We need to fix the terrible inconsistency of taxing those with property to pay for those who use city services. No matter that I don't use public schools, yet I still have to pay for those too.

Sales taxes are consumption taxes. Screw the argument that the poor are taxed harder. If you consume, you pay the tax. Consume less, pay less tax. The internet tax is much less than you think, if you closed the bs loopholes on food versus other taxable items, you could more than make up for the loss on the internet. No one is going to order food on the internet, its been proven that it does not work as an online grocery market.

Crist will be gone soon, I think Alex Sink can help lead us out of years of republican mis-management. She is a very smart lady and has done some great things in her current position.

If you consume a service or an item, pay the tax. Everything should be taxes, even services. That is a loophole that should be closed. All consumption causes money to float through the economy. Give government their percentage and be done with it.

[stjr]

...No matter that I don't use public schools, yet I still have to pay for those too....

Screw the argument that the poor are taxed harder....The internet tax is much less than you think, if you closed the bs loopholes on food versus other taxable items, you could more than make up for the loss on the internet....

Crist will be gone soon, I think Alex Sink can help lead us out of years of republican mis-management. She is a very smart lady and has done some great things in her current position.

Mtrain, you make some "interesting comments" here.  I wish to respond to the ones quoted above.

We should "invest" in public education with or without our own kids in the schools because education for kids is what advances our society for all of us.  Those kids of today will be our doctors, nurses, scientists, inventors, lawyers, leaders, farmers, law enforcement, military, business people, etc. of tomorrow that will be making decisions that effect our daily lives.  I think if we want the best for ourselves, we want to be surrounded by the best.  Further, kids without education that perceive they can't participate in the full benefits of our society clearly have a greater probability to engage in activities or bad decisions that will tax our society at-large for which we will all pay much.

Taxing the poor on basic necessities that they already can hardly afford is unlikely to be supported by even the most conservative pundits.  Just as those with higher incomes have the discretionary ability to buy "luxuries", so do they have the ability to pay taxes proportionate to those greater benefits they receive from our society over those of lesser means that merely struggle to survive.  Taxing basic food and medicine needs will never be accepted politically for this reason.  In some jurisdictions, even basic clothing is exempt from sales taxes.  Florida has, itself, had tax holidays for such things as hurricane and school supplies and clothing considered as basic needs.

As to internet sales, I think you are underestimating the revenue being lost here.  State departments of revenue have been very vociferous about the "leakage" these transactions are generating and are working hard to collect the associated revenue.

I, too, have heard excellent things about Alex Sink and would hope, if she is elected governor, she would bring new vision and common sense to the State's fiscal situation.  But, there is no panacea, and she, especially being a Democrat, won't be taxing food and increasing the burden of taxes on the poor.  We do agree that the past and current Republican leadership in Tallahassee has done much to imperil both the State's and City's budgets!

[mtraininjax]

I never said dump the education system, I just do not applaud the use of the funds for their activities. If they want to raise my millage rate, show me what its for, especially in my local area. Show me the local schools are getting better, not worse.

Florida's tax holidays were suspended last year, and I suspect will be this year as well. Georgia just had their holiday over the weekend. Sales taxes are consumption taxes, and if you consume, you pay, just like everyone else. All 805,000+ of us live in Duval, we are all in this together, we should all pay for it together, not just the 300,000 listed on the mayor's site as part of the fixitnow campaign. Property and business owners should not be the only ones responsible for the future of Duval county.

If you consume, you pay the tax. Very simple tax solution.