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Yes, get rid of property taxes and completely overhaul the tax system. You could easily replace property taxes with a VAT which I would find much preferable be

Yes, get rid of property taxes and completely overhaul the tax system. You could easily replace property taxes with a VAT which I would find much preferable because it’s more flexible. Illinois property taxes robbed my family of a farm that had been in our family for 200 years. My grandparents simply couldn’t afford $20k in taxes every damn year. Patently absurd.

nisegami 4y ago
That's obviously not ideal for your family, but it's precisely what property taxes (or more directly a land value tax) is designed to do. If your grandparents couldn't use the land in a way that covered the property taxes, then the argument is that the use of the land is likely inefficient and it would be better overall if the land was being used more productively. It sounds like the system did exactly what it was supposed to do. Edit: not to mention that VAT and sales taxes are considered regressive taxes that disproportionately burden the less wealthy. I would much quicker remove VAT than property taxes.
- SoftTalker 4y ago
  It's Illinois. The state is a financial disaster. They are jacking property taxes because they don't know of any other way. Certainly spending less and rooting out the massive systemic corruption do not appear to be on the table.
- ROTMetro 4y ago
  It may be what property taxes are designed to do but the social agreement that allows them is that taxes are designed to raise funds, not force people out of their homes. The Romans tried this. They ended up with their citizen farmers walking off the land because of the taxes, and ended up going from some of the most advanced farmers to not being able to feed themselves.
landemva 4y ago
I experienced VAT in Europe for some years and it is an overly complex sales tax. Simply have a sales tax which excludes uncooked food at grocery stores and excludes tax on some reasonably small amount of household energy each month. Then delete other taxes.

nisegami 4y ago

That's obviously not ideal for your family, but it's precisely what property taxes (or more directly a land value tax) is designed to do. If your grandparents couldn't use the land in a way that covered the property taxes, then the argument is that the use of the land is likely inefficient and it would be better overall if the land was being used more productively. It sounds like the system did exactly what it was supposed to do. Edit: not to mention that VAT and sales taxes are considered regressive taxes that disproportionately burden the less wealthy. I would much quicker remove VAT than property taxes.

SoftTalker 4y ago
It's Illinois. The state is a financial disaster. They are jacking property taxes because they don't know of any other way. Certainly spending less and rooting out the massive systemic corruption do not appear to be on the table.
ROTMetro 4y ago
It may be what property taxes are designed to do but the social agreement that allows them is that taxes are designed to raise funds, not force people out of their homes. The Romans tried this. They ended up with their citizen farmers walking off the land because of the taxes, and ended up going from some of the most advanced farmers to not being able to feed themselves.

landemva 4y ago

I experienced VAT in Europe for some years and it is an overly complex sales tax. Simply have a sales tax which excludes uncooked food at grocery stores and excludes tax on some reasonably small amount of household energy each month. Then delete other taxes.