Friday, December 18, 2009

Dear SLCounty: A "Fee" is a Tax Increase in Sheep's Clothing

Video Courtesy of KSL.com



Sounds a heck of a lot like a tax increase to me. And a pretty big one, too.

-Bob

1 comment:

Jesse Fruhwirth said...

I don't know the details of this fee in particular, but generally speaking, fees are paid by businesses and homeowners, but also churches and non-profits. Tax-exempt as they are, churches and non-profits don't pay property taxes (for example, http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-9504-rocky-anderson-vs-ralph-becker.html )

All things being equal, homeowners and businesses get the same service at a lower cost if they pay a fee rather than a tax because churches and non-profits help pay the bill. If you're a church or non-profit, of course, you'd probably rather get something for nothing.

A wolf in sheep's clothing? Maybe. A wolf with an equal-opportunity appetite.