what other taxes? (Denver: sales, 2013, vehicle registration)

[resipsa]

With state income and property taxes being so low, what other taxes and fees are used for state and local revenue? Seems like there has to be something else....or maybe I am just getting grossly overcharged currently...

[Texas Ag 93]

Very high vehicle registration relative to many other states, to name one.

I find the overall tax burden in this state to be very fair relative to the services. That's just my opinion.

[davidv]

People grumble greatly about the cost of registering cars -- owner's tax plus various fees.

Sales tax can be up to 9% or so of purchases.

State gas tax is about $0.20 per gallon, I think. Someone will correct me if I am wrong.

Plus:

Many roads and bridges are in desperate need of repair and expansion, but won't get it.

K-12 Education is woefully underfunded. College funding is nearly non-existent.

Mass transit is nearly non-existent everywhere except Denver, and it will take decades longer than originally thought to build out the light rail system.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by davidv

People grumble greatly about the cost of registering cars -- owner's tax plus various fees.

Sales tax can be up to 9% or so of purchases.

State gas tax is about $0.20 per gallon, I think. Someone will correct me if I am wrong.

Plus:

Many roads and bridges are in desperate need of repair and expansion, but won't get it.

K-12 Education is woefully underfunded. College funding is nearly non-existent.

Mass transit is nearly non-existent everywhere except Denver, and it will take decades longer than originally thought to build out the light rail system.

All good points by davidv, roads and schools especially.

Fees and other revenue:I think Denver has one of the most aggressively lucrative traffic and parking ticket system in the US. I am just waiting for the day funds are deducted from by debit account by an automated truck or photo system per every 1mph over the speed limit. I have received 3 parking tickets within the 10min I need to drop my kid off at school. It's predatory.

[Texas Ag 93]

Originally Posted by Mach50

All good points by davidv, roads and schools especially.

I also think Denver has one of the most aggressively lucrative traffic and parking ticket system in the US. I am just waiting for the day funds are deducted from by debit account by an automated truck or photo system per every 1mph over the speed limit. I have received 3 parking tickets within the 10min I need to drop my kid off at school. It's predatory.

I thought of this as well, but didn't mention it, thinking it too tongue in cheek and hard to quantify. They have certainly made a fair amount of money off of my household (and for very minimal mph over the limit infractions).

The issues davidv mentions above are arguably a problem within almost every state (schools) and even at the national level (roads and bridges/infrastructure). And many of the taxes he mentions like sales and gas taxes are equivalent in other states, at least in my experience.

[rumline]

I know Denver has lower crime than similar metropolitan areas, but apparently the crime rate must be near zero since the cops have run out of bad guys to catch and have now turned their attention on average commuters.

[resipsa]

How bad are the license plate registrations/renewals? I'm used to around $100 or so annually I think. Gas actually sounds low (but I'm used to outrageous gas tax in IL) and Sales tax sounds about average.

As for speeding/parkings tickets....yeah not exactly the best form of mucipal funding...

Anyway, thanks for the info. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking anything when I make the financial case for us to move!

[Texas Ag 93]

Originally Posted by resipsa

How bad are the license plate registrations/renewals? I'm used to around $100 or so annually I think. Gas actually sounds low (but I'm used to outrageous gas tax in IL) and Sales tax sounds about average.

As for speeding/parkings tickets....yeah not exactly the best form of mucipal funding...

Anyway, thanks for the info. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking anything when I make the financial case for us to move!

They are based on the value of your vehicle and can run many hundreds of dollars per year for each car. The higher value your vehicle (and the more of them you have, obviously), the more you pay. One thing that has been pointed out regarding this issue, however, is that you, as a consumer, have it within your control to decide what kind of car you own. You don't want to pay a lot in registration, buy older model years and drive them for a while.

I always used to complain often about the registration fees, but after somebody here on C-D brought up the point I mention above, I am more appreciative of it.....

[denverian]

Originally Posted by resipsa

How bad are the license plate registrations/renewals? I'm used to around $100 or so annually I think. Gas actually sounds low (but I'm used to outrageous gas tax in IL) and Sales tax sounds about average.

As for speeding/parkings tickets....yeah not exactly the best form of mucipal funding...

Anyway, thanks for the info. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking anything when I make the financial case for us to move!

I just paid $160 to renew the plates on my 7 year old Prius, if that gives you any idea. I think when it was new, I paid around $500.

[Timmyy]

I bought my Toyota Tacoma in 2013 brand new. It cost me $600 to register it. Ouch.