Progressive Policies for Raising Municipal Revenue
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Progressive Policies for Raising Municipal Revenue April 2015 A Strategy Report From This report was co-authored by Shawn Sebastian and Karl Kumodzi of the Center for Popular Democracy. Local Progress is the policy network for elected officials from cities and counties around the country united by their commitment to shared prosperity, equal justice under law, sustainable and livable cities, and good government that serves the public interest. Hand-in-hand with community-based organizations and progressive unions committed to advancing a social justice agenda, the elected officials and staff of Local Progress are building the network to facilitate a genuine “inside/outside” strategy to reforming municipal policy and politics. LocalProgress.org The Center for Popular Democracy works to create equity, opportunity, and a dynamic democracy in partnership with high-impact base- building organizations, organizing alliances, and progressive unions. CPD strengthens our collective capacity to envision and win an innovative pro- worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda. PopularDemocracy.org TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Executive Summary ........................................................................................................ 1 II. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 3 A. The Current Crisis .......................................................................................................................................................... 3 B. The Long History of the Municipal Revenue Crisis .......................................................................................... 3 C. Who Pays The Most ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 D. The Promise of Cities .................................................................................................................................................... 6 E. Progressive Strategies to Raise Municipal Revenue ........................................................................................ 6 III. The Role of Municipalities in Building a Progressive Taxation System: Limited Tools, but Room to Grow ....................................................................................................................... 7 A. Legal Limitations Imposed by the State ............................................................................................................... 7 B. Budget Pressures Imposed by the State ............................................................................................................... 8 C. Trends in Progressivity and Geography ............................................................................................................... 9 D. Local Electeds and Communities Must Build Effective Political Movements to Save Our Cities 12 E. Leading with Needs, then Coupling with Means ............................................................................................. 13 F. Creating a Narrative Flexible Enough to Work Across Jurisdictions ...................................................... 14 G. Policy Fixes Require a Movement ......................................................................................................................... 15 IV. Municipal Income Taxes ............................................................................................ 16 A. State-Level Progressive Taxation with Earmarks for Municipalities ..................................................... 17 B. Reforming Income Taxes Where they Exist ...................................................................................................... 18 C. Local Earned Income Tax Credit ............................................................................................................................ 19 D. Occupational Privilege Taxes/Commuter Taxes ............................................................................................. 19 E. Remove Capital Gains Tax Loopholes at the State Level ............................................................................. 20 F. Statewide Corporate Tax Reform .......................................................................................................................... 21 V. Progressive Fees for Services and Well-Structured Fines ................................................ 22 A. Conservation Pricing .................................................................................................................................................. 23 B. General Transfer Fund Agreements ..................................................................................................................... 23 C. Stormwater Drainage Fees ...................................................................................................................................... 24 D. Sidewalk Utility Fees .................................................................................................................................................. 25 E. Landlord Permit Fees and Fire Assessment fees ............................................................................................ 25 F. Waste ................................................................................................................................................................................ 26 G. Development Impact Fees ........................................................................................................................................ 26 H. Service Fees Based on Income ................................................................................................................................ 27 I. Fines Based on Income .............................................................................................................................................. 27 VI. Sales Taxes ................................................................................................................ 29 A. Exemptions for Necessities ...................................................................................................................................... 30 B. Sales Tax Credit ............................................................................................................................................................ 30 C. Apply Sin Taxes According to Price not Excise ................................................................................................ 30 D. Luxury Tax ...................................................................................................................................................................... 30 E. Transient Occupancy Tax ......................................................................................................................................... 30 F. Sales Tax For Services ................................................................................................................................................ 31 G. Sales Tax For Internet Sales .................................................................................................................................... 31 H. Earmarking Sales Tax Revenue for Progressive Purposes ......................................................................... 32 VII. Property Taxes .......................................................................................................... 33 A. The Context: Property Tax Caps or Overtaxing a Poor Base ...................................................................... 33 B. Wealth Taxes: Great in Theory, But Not Politically Realistic ..................................................................... 34 C. Eliminating Tax Breaks.............................................................................................................................................. 35 D. Property Tax Breaks Based on Income or “Circuit Breakers” ................................................................... 35 E. Homestead Exemptions ............................................................................................................................................ 36 F. Deferral Programs ....................................................................................................................................................... 36 G. Eliminating Business Improvement Districts and Special Economic Zones ....................................... 37 H. Eliminating or Reforming Tax-Increment Financing (TIFs) ...................................................................... 37 I. Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) .................................................................................................................... 38 J. Pied-a-tierre tax ............................................................................................................................................................ 39 VIII. Regionalism: A Way Forward for St. Louis & Beyond .................................................. 40 A. Regional Governance .................................................................................................................................................. 40 B. Regional Land Use Planning .................................................................................................................................... 40