GlennTax poll
The Political Insider has information on a poll that was commissioned by the Speaker on the GlennTax:
After months of having his GREAT tax plan hammered by critics, House Speaker Glenn Richardson can take solace in a new poll suggesting Georgians like his proposal to eliminate property taxes.RadMod has a good point that those polled weren't asked to consider:Our colleague James Salzer learned a new poll commissioned by Richardson of 600 Georgians in late October showed 58 percent of respondents favor his plan to eliminate property taxes and replace the lost revenue with an expanded sales tax.
About 29 percent opposed it, and the rest hadn’t made up their mind.
The poll’s method is somewhat flawed, in that it doesn’t account for the primary criticism of the plan: states stripping local governments of their ability to tax as they see fit.So...I'd like to see where you guys are at:If the question were phrased “do you support sending local tax dollars that pay for your schools to Atlanta before your local government ever sees them?” that wouldn’t draw a 59 percent positive response.
Comments
RadMod's point is true of how queries are posed in most polls. But the issue of whether states stripping local governments of their ability to tax as they see fit, is understood by poll-takers is polarizing.
I believe most people agree that 'local control' is a good thing. But even among that majority there is concern that lack of accountability takes on the meaning of failure to produce sufficiently in regard to the taxes levied.
It is about schools, for sure. And nobody wants to see the national ranking fall below 49 out of 50. Nor does anyone want to see their home county fall to the level of Fulton, for example.
It is also about property taxes. Henry has the 4th highest among the metro area. Yet we do not see consistently applied policy toward fulfilling needs before wants.
The issue for taxpayers is the amount of money we give up. While we acknowledge the certainty of eventual wrinkles and death, we do not have any more control over taxation. It seems that nobody, even our local controllers understand this is money we earned - it is ours. There is an assumed right or entitlement to it.
For schools, I am convinced, it is not really about the money. It's more about a sense of entitlement to every dollar that can be generated for education. It is about control. Local control simply means that, statewide, nobody can question or control the amounts levied. So long as voter turnout can be maintained at low levels, there is no threat to the supply of OPM.
As for property taxes, that is a large portion of every county's general budget. Again, the hunger is never satisfied. Instead of targeting expenses for normal and customary budgeting, the tax base (assessments, etc) is set to accomodate any wish list the governing authority chooses.
Rep. John Lunsford made this point very clearly. Budgetary politics is a game very few Joe Citizens understand. We want a change, but we are faced with all-out war whenever local chieftains see their supply of OPM in jeopardy.
Nobody wants to see a central government in control of local policy. Geez, that is like asking the ARC or GDOT egomaniacs to set all our policies. (not that Henry's current ARC representation has done us much good.)
Richardson's plan is not yet ready for prime time. But it is a start. It has open the path for discussion and debate. It can mean a change in the way local governments and school boards view OPM -- and that is a good thing.
Posted by: Larry Stanley | November 5, 2007 03:25 PM