[W. K. Lis]

Cities or counties in the United States of America have their own sales tax to help pay for their projects that their state or federal governments do not or refuse to pay for. New York City for example has a 4.625% sales tax and a 0.25% Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District sales tax, in addition to the state sales tax. Erie county (Buffalo) has a 4.75% sales tax, in addition to the state sales tax.

Maybe it is time for Toronto and other urban municipalities to look at a sales tax to help pay for projects that the provincial and federal governments refuse to help support. The 0.25% that NYC has to pay, is a good number to start with.

 

[Cranky Old Fart]

No Thanks

you want to tax the people of Toronto more, a GST, a PST & a MST !

A better idea would be a Province of Toronto that collected it's own Sales, Income, Liquor taxes ran it's own Casino's & lotteries & did away with the Property Tax !

You use US Municipalities/Counties as an example well the US does not have a Federal Sales Tax like we do in Canada, Texas doesn't have a State Sales Tax.

Anyways under the archaic form of government here Toronto isn't even allowed to have a Municipal Sales Tax.

When are you people going to realize that there will be no substantive progress for the GTA until we break free from Ontario's noose and become a Province !

 

[greenleaf]

Maybe it is time for Toronto and other urban municipalities to look at a sales tax to help pay for projects that the provincial and federal governments refuse to help support. The 0.25% that NYC has to pay, is a good number to start with.

I think this is a great idea, except I don't think we can do it, not even under the new City of Toronto act.

 

[GraphicMatt]

The opportunity was missed when the Feds cut the GST to 5%. I think keeping our sales tax at 15% but devoting 2% to municipalities would have had a tremendous benefit across the province and wouldn't have really been felt by taxpayers.

 

[Hipster Duck]

Absolutely not. Municipal sales taxes are one of the most regressive forms of taxation and lead governments to preferentially spend public money attracting retail developers rather than on the citizens they are supposed to serve.

Municipalsales taxes are responsible for a lot of what is wrong with urban America right now. Every urban planner and city official that I have ever talked to in the US tells me that they wish they could get out of this trap.

 

[W. K. Lis]

If the construction of Transit City and GO expansion is under Metrolinx, then ALL cities and regions that are being served by Metrolinx should have a source of funds to help build the infrastructure needed, if the province will not supply it. So a Metrolinx sales tax maybe the way to go to build them. That would include Barrie and Waterloo, since they are served or will be served by GO (Metrolinx).

 

[js97]

Cities or counties in the United States of America have their own sales tax to help pay for their projects that their state or federal governments do not or refuse to pay for. New York City for example has a 4.625% sales tax and a 0.25% Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District sales tax, in addition to the state sales tax. Erie county (Buffalo) has a 4.75% sales tax, in addition to the state sales tax.

Maybe it is time for Toronto and other urban municipalities to look at a sales tax to help pay for projects that the provincial and federal governments refuse to help support. The 0.25% that NYC has to pay, is a good number to start with.

Why go through all that foreplay? Just simply implement a Toronto Head Tax. 500 a year for every individual that lives in the city. In return, you get preferred rates for TTC passes, access to 311 account, free access to rec centres, etc. Think of the excellent service you will be receiving. The 500 goes directly to expanding 'service' from city hall by expanding counicllors discretionary expense account by another 50 K. Think of the grass roots groups they can sponsor and pander too!

Hopefully, we'ill drive out all the conservative middle class familties to the suburbs. Then we will have a very left city population to rule our kingdom as is.... Think of the amazing tax base we will get from bankers, celebrities, doctors etc. We will be just like manhattan! (oh, and of course, if you're an 'artist', affordable government housing will be the way to go, property taxes and value sky rocket as only the affluent, and coincidentally,those subsidized by the government, will be able to afford to live in the city.

Welcome to a major U.S. city, or Toronto in 12 more years under the current status quo. I'd be willing to pay that just to see this happen.

 

[W. K. Lis]

Why go through all that foreplay? Just simply implement a Toronto Head Tax. 500 a year for every individual that lives in the city. In return, you get preferred rates for TTC passes, access to 311 account, free access to rec centres, etc. Think of the excellent service you will be receiving. The 500 goes directly to expanding 'service' from city hall by expanding counicllors discretionary expense account by another 50 K. Think of the grass roots groups they can sponsor and pander too!

Hopefully, we'ill drive out all the conservative middle class familties to the suburbs. Then we will have a very left city population to rule our kingdom as is.... Think of the amazing tax base we will get from bankers, celebrities, doctors etc. We will be just like manhattan! (oh, and of course, if you're an 'artist', affordable government housing will be the way to go, property taxes and value sky rocket as only the affluent, and coincidentally,those subsidized by the government, will be able to afford to live in the city.

Welcome to a major U.S. city, or Toronto in 12 more years under the current status quo. I'd be willing to pay that just to see this happen.

What about the the 905ers who smuggle themselves across the frontier into Toronto and use the roads, transit, and services in Toronto? For example, the TTC fare is $3.00 cash but with a 30% subsidy from Toronto. That means Toronto property owners pay $1.29 for each 905er who uses the TTC. At least with a some sort of municipal sales tax, the non-Torontoians will help pay for the services they use. Unless we can find a way for them to pay the full price.

 

[Chuck]

Love the sarcasm, but on a serious note, no. Adding yet another tax seems like an easy enough solution, but when you're the one losing massive amounts of your paycheck to various taxes, hearing about all of the government waste, inefficiencies, and scandals really stings.

In theory, I don't mind tax increases at all. I'm even a little bit surprised that there were no tax increases introduced in the latest provincial budget. But again, knowing that Transit City might not have been delayed had the auto industry not received their deplorable bailout, it's really a slap in the face!

I just don't think that the current levels of government can be trusted with more of our tax dollars, therefore I would not support a new tax.

 

[W. K. Lis]

Maybe after Canada and Ontario get back their $3 billion from ownership (hopefully with a capital gain) of GM and Chrysler, there will be enough money directed for changes to the better for Transit City.

 

[Prometheus The Supremo]

there's no guarantee that the money raised through a MST or any other fees would go to infrastructure upgrades like public transit, even if you're told the money will go to public transit expansion. you shouldn't beg for more taxes from politicians who never keep their promises. we'll get the story that the money marked for transit expansion has to be used to balance the books because there's no other way to do it while at the same time these clowns vote themselves raises and increase pay cheques for city employees. in the end, the only public transit expansion the MST would end up funding is bigger cars for city politicians & employees.

 

[Hipster Duck]

^Exactly (plus what Chuck said). In the US, dedicated sales taxes for transit capital investments are generally used to build new lines (vote getting stuff), while the money that's needed for operating the transit gest ignored until cuts (usually to the bus system, usually in poor neighbourhoods) have to be made.

Then there's the other stuff that makes a sales tax a lousy idea, ranging from the fact that is one of the most regressive forms of taxation to the fact that it is a vulnerable source of revenue during a recession when, of course, it's needed the most.

 

[js97]

What about the the 905ers who smuggle themselves across the frontier into Toronto and use the roads, transit, and services in Toronto? For example, the TTC fare is $3.00 cash but with a 30% subsidy from Toronto. That means Toronto property owners pay $1.29 for each 905er who uses the TTC. At least with a some sort of municipal sales tax, the non-Torontoians will help pay for the services they use. Unless we can find a way for them to pay the full price.

That's so easy to manage. I.D. Cards!. Those sneaky 905'ers can pay 3.50. If your drivers license says Toronto it will be only 2.50. Similiarly applied on all other services.



Provincially, there has been a tax increase. The HST is a pretty hefty chunk of change, no matter how they've tried to sell it to you.

I wouldn't be so opposed to taxes if they where actually used efficiently. I would actually be okay with the 500 dollar 'head tax' (similiar to the provincial 'medical' tax if there was a way to ensure the money was actually going to build subways as opposed to more bureacracy.

 

[W. K. Lis]

That's so easy to manage. I.D. Cards!. Those sneaky 905'ers can pay 3.50. If your drivers license says Toronto it will be only 2.50. Similiarly applied on all other services.



Provincially, there has been a tax increase. The HST is a pretty hefty chunk of change, no matter how they've tried to sell it to you.

I wouldn't be so opposed to taxes if they where actually used efficiently. I would actually be okay with the 500 dollar 'head tax' (similiar to the provincial 'medical' tax if there was a way to ensure the money was actually going to build subways as opposed to more bureacracy.

With the HST coming in July, adding 8% to the cost of gasoline, I wonder how many will actually decide to give up their car and turn to walking or transit? If there is little change, then a MST may be a possibility, but if people do change then a MST will have to be rejected (even if it would be a small percentage).

 

[kettal]

With the HST coming in July, adding 8% to the cost of gasoline, I wonder how many will actually decide to give up their car and turn to walking or transit? If there is little change, then a MST may be a possibility, but if people do change then a MST will have to be rejected (even if it would be a small percentage).

It won't add 8% to the current price, the HST is only applied to the base price of gasoline, which is roughly 30 cents lower than a $1 per litre final price.

And it's not like there's empty seats on transit just waiting to be filled, the TTC is at capacity already.