grrr council tax (uk)

Originally posted by Black Star Uchess
interesting, am opposed to local income tax as it would be even more beurocratic then the current system ..again you just replicate the job of the treasury across 100s of councils ... then top them again as some will still not make enough... it sounds 'fair' but think it would not work,

the harsh truth is most of the council staff and bailiffs ...[text shortened]... ax.. 1000s..
serve no useful purpose. we could have less tax / more services without them ..

You'd also have less local control.

A local area's elected representatives - councillors - need to be able to increase or decrease the spending in their area, as well as prioritise it, and to be held accountable for what they've decided to do.

Originally posted by Redmike
You'd also have less local control.

A local area's elected representatives - councillors - need to be able to increase or decrease the spending in their area, as well as prioritise it, and to be held accountable for what they've decided to do.

Why do they need to be able to do that?

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
Why do they need to be able to do that?

Well, they don't need to be able to do that, but is generally considered more democratic if they can.

The alternative is complete control from central governement.

Originally posted by Redmike
Well, they don't need to be able to do that, but is generally considered more democratic if they can.

The alternative is complete control from central governement.

I wouldn't advocate control, just the funding.

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
I wouldn't advocate control, just the funding.

You mean where each council gets a fixed amount from central government?

I just think this is less democratic.

Originally posted by Redmike
You mean where each council gets a fixed amount from central government?

I just think this is less democratic.

Why?

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
Why?

Well, central government is further away.

The people in a local area should, if they want to, spend more (or less) locally than what the central government allocates.

There are clearly areas where more money is needed than others, where there are specific social issues or whatever.

i can't think of a bank anywhere that would have 1000 separate credit control depts
for each area of the country.. someone would point out this is stupid.

i think govts should tax in the most effecient way possible , then spend seperately.
some of the council staff could be put to better use regulating the poor landlors we have

Originally posted by Black Star Uchess
i can't think of a bank anywhere that would have 1000 separate credit control depts
for each area of the country.. someone would point out this is stupid.

i think govts should tax in the most effecient way possible , then spend seperately.
some of the council staff could be put to better use regulating the poor landlors we have

Yes, but the government isn't a bank.

It has to balance efficiency with democracy.

The most efficient way to tax, presumably, is to have a government of a single individual who decides the tax rate - all those representatives and voting is so inefficient.