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[quote=jwkilgore;39584784]One popular way for a local area to raise funds is through a "tourism tax". Taxes directly on things like rental cars, hotels, special events, etc. Indirectly you can also have "police taxes" where the police force aggressively patrols and tickets travelers but lets the locals go. Locals love these types of taxes because they don't have to pay them, but it funds their town.
Using the OP's logic, every person in the country should be entitled to vote on every local tax in every jurisdiction they may travel to one day.
I regularly travel to places and universally see these taxes on my bills. Even though I live in Tennessee, should I be allowed to vote on rental car taxes at LAX, or hotel taxes in New Orleans? I'm paying them, so you're saying I have a vote, right?
Wrong. You vote where you live, and that's it. Voting is a citizen/residence right, not a business right. Corporations are not people. If you don't like the taxes imposed on you by a town where you do business, your choice is to suck it up and pay, or sell out and do business elsewhere.[/quote]
The OP obstinately refuses to accept this despite virtually all the posters trying to explain this simple concept. He also has ignored requests to name any local jurisdiction where voters get to vote on property tax rates. I think he just posted this "question" to get attention for himself.
But property tax is property tax, it gets paid whether there's a restaurant, a souvenir shop, a boutique or even if it's empty. Most places the type of business in a space doesn't matter (zoning does) for assessment.
Speaking only for MD, the only fines the locality receives are those for municipal infractions. Everything else-stop signs, many parking violations, speeding-remits to the State no matter who writes the ticket.
Actually, property taxes are based on property values (and assessments). If a street is lined with empty store-fronts the property values (and assessments and property taxes) will be significantly lower than if the same street is lined with successful restaurants and shops flush with tourist money.
I'm shocked that local parking fines go to the state, but then every state is different.
One popular way for a local area to raise funds is through a "tourism tax". Taxes directly on things like rental cars, hotels, special events, etc. Indirectly you can also have "police taxes" where the police force aggressively patrols and tickets travelers but lets the locals go. Locals love these types of taxes because they don't have to pay them, but it funds their town.
Using the OP's logic, every person in the country should be entitled to vote on every local tax in every jurisdiction they may travel to one day.
I regularly travel to places and universally see these taxes on my bills. Even though I live in Tennessee, should I be allowed to vote on rental car taxes at LAX, or hotel taxes in New Orleans? I'm paying them, so you're saying I have a vote, right?
Wrong. You vote where you live, and that's it. Voting is a citizen/residence right, not a business right. Corporations are not people. If you don't like the taxes imposed on you by a town where you do business, your choice is to suck it up and pay, or sell out and do business elsewhere.
The OP obstinately refuses to accept this despite virtually all the posters trying to explain this simple concept. He also has ignored requests to name any local jurisdiction where voters get to vote on property tax rates. I think he just posted this "question" to get attention for himself.
I've lived in multiple jurisdictions where votes were held on whether or not property tax should be increased to fund schools. Auburn, Alabama, and Hoover, Alabama, come to mind. Property owners did not get to vote; Only residents.
In order to vote in a jurisdiction you have to register to vote there to get a voter ID card, and therefore you have to prove you live there. You don't need to own a home for this; you only need an address. A recently homeless person still on the voter roles with a valid ID can vote. Some homeless shelters will allow the use of their address for voter registration. Even a friend's couch would work if you sign a "lease".
But in general, no, the chronically homeless cannot vote in any jurisdiction because they do not have a permanent residence inside any jurisdiction.
Anyone that owns property and rents or leases property should have a say in the amount of property taxes collected, period. Those living rent or property tax free should have zero to say in the matter since it does not effect them.
Anyone that owns property and rents or leases property should have a say in the amount of property taxes collected, period. Those living rent or property tax free should have zero to say in the matter since it does not effect them.
So if you own a condo in Cancun, you should vote in their local election?
Or if you own rental property in four states, you vote in all those elections?
How would that work?
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