3-27-84
Joseph R. Oldani
23465 Eastern Ave.
Manhattan, ILL 60442
Subject: Testimony
given to the Ill. Senate Revenue Committee on bills aimed at alternatives to
local school financing.
I would like to thank the senate revenue committee for an opportunity to offer testimony on a series of bills aimed at shifting the tax base for support of schools from property to income. I have been interested and I have done research on this issue for approximately three years. Also I have been instrumental in testing public support for this issue through the use of advisory referendums.
I am in favor of bills that are intended to be or can be modified to be a total replacement of the real estate property tax with a local income tax, preferably refined to a county level as a school-funding source such as the educational fund. Based on my conversations with hundreds of citizens I can say people are generally in favor of an income tax but they do not want both taxes property and income for the same fund or taxing authority. Furthermore, a bill that does not eliminate the property tax does not address the inherent problem with the property tax. Since people do pay property taxes with their income we can calculate what percent of our income we pay in property taxes. Under the property tax we are all paying different or varying percents of our income even within the same taxing district. This results in an unequal sharing of the tax "burden when we compare with each other what percent of our income our property tax takes. Therefore, I urge you not to support any bills that are only to abate property taxes.
In this testimony there is information included as outlined
below to show that an income tax to replace property taxes to fund schools and
local government is a fairer, economically feasible, and administratively
realistic and practical alternative to property taxes.
1.
Fairer in terms of the treatment of individual taxpayers and the
distribution of the tax burden created by schools and local government.
2.
A feasible funding source based on state reports.
3.
Practical in terms of administration and collection based on it's use in
other states and ideas for implementation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Illinois
Senate Revenue Committee Hearing Testimony given by Joseph R. Oldani Dated
3-27-84.
Additional
Testimony: Comments regarding the Illinois Department of Revenue Position Paper
on related problems of a local
income tax. Dated 4-28-82. Illinois Department of Revenue Position Paper
attached.
Illinois Comptroller Roland W. Burris requested by Joseph R. Oldani: Examination of the ratio of individual and corporate property taxes paid to the average percent of their respective net income as defined by the State of Illinois Dated 6-10-81.
4.
Appendix
a. Reference Material: Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue reference publication
"State and Local Finance".
c. Example
Copy: Regulations of a local income tax used by Canton, Ohio.
1.
Fairness to Taxpayers
I would like to share some observations with you.
People create the need for more schools and government
services not property. The world
hasn't gotten any larger but the need for schools, government services, and the
population has increased.
The controlling factor is the population. By using property as a tax base we are using a relatively speaking constant tax base to fund schools and local government. Sure we have divided it up into smaller pieces and made improvements to it. We have used this criterion to squeeze more tax dollars out of the same amount of property for a given geographic area. This has been done it seems with the only Justification being to raise more revenue without looking at how it affects the individual taxpayer.
Under the property tax the assumption is made if all property is assessed at the same percent of market value it will turn out to be a equitable system. Everyone will pay his or her fair share of the tax burden. This brings to mind two questions.
1.
What is a fair share of the tax burden?
2. How should we determine a person’s fair share?
I suppose ideally if everyone would pay the same dollar amount to fund schools and local government services that would make it simple but that is not a feasible or realistic possibility. The cost of some things such as a tuition fee to educate children or to maintain a police and fire department would be prohibitive to many people. So we are faced with the fact that some people will pay more or less than others to support schools and local government.
Another
thing is our responsibility for funding them is not dependent on whether or not
we use these services. This is
because society or all people benefit directly or indirectly by there existence. Given these criteria can we equitably distribute the tax
burden? Tax burden concerns the
amount people are paying in taxes. It
is not the absolute dollar amount however!
I will use the following example to illustrate this point.
Two people pay $800.00 in taxes. The
first earns $40,000.00 and the second earns $20,000.00. Obviously the burden of
paying the $800.00 is more severe on the $20,000.00 wage earner.
The first is only paying 2% of his income and the second 4% of his
income. For comparison the tax
burden to each of us can be measured as the percent of our income we are paying
in taxes. In the example the tax
burden is not distributed equitably.
Both the property tax and an income tax are based on the assumption that
the more you earn the more you can afford to pay.
That whatever tax system we use we cannot all expect to pay the same
dollar amount. Arid, it is a logical thought that if you earn more you can
afford to pay more. But, this is
where the similarity ends. An
income tax such as the State of Illinois taxes us on the money we earn.
It takes into consideration our ability to pay taxes. It does distribute
the tax burden equitably and relative to each of us. We all pay the same
percent.
By
contrast the property tax does not tax us on the money we earn but on how we
have spent the money we have earned. Whether
we bought a big house, a little house, or added to our home.
The property tax does not take into consideration that people make
varying degrees of sacrifice to buy the home of their choice. It is a false
assumption that people with the same income buy homes of similar value.
Furthermore, it can be shown that the property tax forces people to pay
varying rates or percents of their income regardless of the amount they earn to
support schools and local government. The
property tax taxes people according to their individual lifestyles.
Let's
assume for a moment we had an income tax to fund schools and local government.
Now assume someone dictates to us what percent each of us were going to
pay but not according to our income.
But,
by what kind of car we owned and what accessories were on it for example.
Wouldn't this be absurd? It
would even be unconstitutional.
The
property tax is taxing people similar to this example when you examine it.
I believe that this methodology has become out dated for today's society.
That the tax burden is no longer being applied equitably or to all those
who can contribute to fund schools and local government. Yet the schools and local services are there for everyone.
If you think about it the level of service we get from schools and local
government is not relevant to the size of our house or it’s site.
What does the size of our house or the value of it have to do with our
individual responsibility to fund schools and local government?
As proof
of how the property tax disproportionately distributes the tax burden we only
have to look at what percent of our income we are paying in property taxes and
compare with others in the community. From
comparisons I have done in my own community the range for homeowners is
generally between 2 to 6 percent of their gross income.
I have heard of some retired homeowners paying as high as 11% and they
are many who don't own property that pay less than 2%. Where is the justice in
this system? The property tax is
really an income tax in disguise because people do pay property taxes with their
income. When it is analyzed it becomes apparent how it is unfair.
Consider the following examples.
Two people who earn the same wage - If the first
bought the nicest home he could afford and the second chooses a more modest home, apartment, or
trailer. The first would pay a greater amount of taxes and a greater percent
of his income just by his life style. Under an income tax they would be
taxed the same.
2.
How people spend their extra money - If a person decides to add something
to his home such as a recreation room, fireplace, or anything that might add to
his family's enjoyment. He not only pays the sales tax on the material but the
assessed value of his property will go up and increase his tax burden to fund
schools and local government. By comparison if someone goes out and spends their extra
money on drinking, gambling, or whatever their tax burden to fund schools and
local government is not increased. Why should the homeowner be penalized in this
way? Under an income tax people would have the freedom to spend their extra
money how they choose without additional tax penalties.
3.
Retired persons - They are being stripped of their future security. As
the market value of their home increases
so does their tax burden because they are on a fixed income. Many will not be
able to keep homes that took a lifetime to pay for. Under an income tax they
would have a tax they could afford.
4. Business
or industry - The property tax does not allow for the diversification of
business or industry. Why should one business or industry have to pay a greater
percent of it's revenue in taxes to fund schools and local government simply
because it needs a little more land or a larger building to conduct it's
business. Who knows how inequitable their ranges of percents are?
The property tax is inflationary because the increases
in assessed value are involuntary and beyond the control of the taxpayer.
That the market value of houses has risen much faster than people’s
personal income and it is no longer a true measure of their ability to pay
taxes. Did you ever stop to think we are being taxed on borrowed money?
Most homeowners are only co-owners with the lending institutions.
Yet we are faced with paying the taxes on the full amount.
The
idea of replacing the property tax with and income tax can be thought of as
shifting the tax base from property to income.
Here are two good reasons for doing it.
1.
Income is a
larger tax base. There are more people in today's society who earn an income
besides those who also own property.
2.
The tax burden
would be distributed equitably according to the monetary society we have today.
I
recognize that they are mechanical problems in making the switch but there also
are many similarities that can be shown. Many
of the same mechanics can be used if adjusted for an income base.
Since people do pay
property taxes with their income, the property tax can be looked at in terms of
an income tax to look at the economic feasibility of the concept. In any given
area such as a township, county, or state the average percent of income that
individuals and corporations are paying in property taxes can be calculated.
To calculate an equivalent flat rate of income tax divide the total
property taxes paid from individuals and corporations for a geographic area by
their respective income bases for the same area for a given year. These average percents
would generate the same amount of money as the property tax but the difference
is in how it affects the individual or corporation. All would pay their
respective average percent and have the same proportional tax burden rather than
some paying above or below the average.
I
will submit in evidence a letter from Comptroller Roland W. Burris who put
together a study for me. This study
indicates for the year 1977 the average percent of net income individuals and
corporations would have to pay to totally replace all property taxes paid.
There were two other studies done both with the idea of replacing the
property tax with the Illinois State Income Tax.
1. Financing Local Government Through the State Income Tax. Done by the Illinois Legislative Council February 16, 1981 (File # 81-119). This study uses data from the years 1978 and 1979. Retired United States Representative and former State of Illinois Senator The Honorable George Sangmeister requested the study.
2. Research Memorandum done for the Local Government Finance Study Commission. Completed by the Public Policy Research Institute of Western Illinois University (December 1980). This study uses data from the years 1978 and 1979.
In
these studies they did not look at the property tax in it's present form to find
the average percents of income individuals and corporations are paying. Because
of a clause in the State of Illinois Constitution the percents quoted in these
reports were dictated by a mandatory
8 to 5 ratio. This is like trying
to compare apples to oranges. You
cannot really make a true comparison of the facts by choosing an entirely new
set of rules to make a study of the concept of replacing property taxes with an
income tax. I might point out that
a local income tax would not have the 8 to 5 ratio restriction.
Perhaps if the state income tax is used there could be an amendment added
to allow the percent rates to reflect the true average percents being paid now
by individuals and corporations under the property tax system.
I have included Mr. Roland W. Burris’s letter and
the first report with my analysis of it for evidence. See link.
In the report done by Western Illinois University they failed to define
tax burden. Because of it I believe the report biased against the idea of
replacing property taxes with an income tax. The Western Illinois University
Study stated at least six times throughout the report that the tax burden would
be shifted to renters and property owners would receive windfall gains. In my
opinion the idea of everyone paying the same percent of income cannot be
interpreted as shifting the tax burden to anyone. If it did why do we have a
state income tax? The homeowners who are paying over the average percent and
would benefit do not consider this a windfall gain but justice due after all the
years of paying the larger share of the tax burden.
Besides all individuals having the same tax burden with a flat rate
income tax, it may help stabilize rents and give renters a way to deduct local
taxes that they don't have now.
The study
by Comptroller Roland W. Burris dated 6-10-81 shows some impressive
statistics. In the study year the average percent of income individuals would
have to pay to totally replace all property taxes collected in the state was
2.8% of net income. The average homeowner pays well over this percent of their
income in property taxes. The results clearly show that income is a much larger
tax base and that many more people would be paying taxes to support schools and
local government compared to the property tax system. The report is not intended
to dictate rates but only to show the potential of an income tax as a funding
source. This
is a state average and additional studies would have to be done for specific
taxing bodies such as schools in local areas.
Also the report percentage quoted for corporations is inflated.
This is because of the income figure used in computing the average percent of
income corporations paid in property taxes. The corporations’ income base
figure used is lower than it would actually be, had they not paid
property taxes or personal property tax as in the study year. Both of these
taxes can be deducted as the cost of doing business resulting in a lower net
income figure and therefore a higher percent.
In the studies using the state income tax with the 8 to 5 ratio criteria to determine the percent of income for individuals and corporations to replace the total property taxes paid, it appears that individuals would pay some of the taxes paid now by corporations. This fact becomes apparent when you look at the discrepancy between the individual's average percent quoted in Comptroller Burris's report 2.8% and the percent quoted in the reports using the 8 to 5 ratio 4.4%. That is 6.9% as quoted minus 2.5% the present state income tax rate equals an additional 4.4% for property tax replacement. If this pretension were true and a compromise could be reached for individuals to offset some of the taxes paid by corporations it ultimately could have a good effect. It may help attract more business and industry into our state and create more jobs. This probable consequence would increase the tax base and produce more income tax revenue. Perhaps the rates calculated initially could be reduced upon further analysis.
I
have included two articles that present additional information about the idea
implementing a local income tax.
1. Local Tax District Income Tax presented by Illinois Department of Revenue suggested structure features and related problems for a local tax district income tax (Dated 4-23-82). In addition to the Illinois Department of Revenue's Position Paper I have attached and my comments that reference the issues as stated by IDOR. See link.
2. Material from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's reference publication “State and Local Finance”.
The
Wisconsin Department of Revenue's reference publication documents other states
and to what degree they use an income tax. Two of the more progressive
states not listed in our own department of revenue's position paper are Ohio and
Pennsylvania. In Ohio about 65% of the state uses a local income tax. As an
example of how versatile it is in some areas of the state it applies only to
individuals and in other areas to corporations and individuals. The city of
Canton in Ohio excluding the schools and the county but the municipality does
not have a property tax. A city that can be compared in size to Joliet uses a
local income tax as it's main revenue for it's needs police, fire protection,
and etc. The tax rate or percent of income is voter referendum approved. It was
adopted in 1955 at .6% the current rate is 2%. All increases have to be voter
referendum approved. This is just
one example of a local income tax system that works. The actual tax laws used to
cover every situation of administration and collection for individuals and
corporations in these other states can be modified or used directly in Illinois.
I
realize there is not much support for a total replacement of property taxes in
the Illinois General Assembly but there is growing support for shifting school
funding to an income tax. This would be an excellent start in the right
direction since school funding is approximately two thirds of a property tax
bill. In conclusion I feel that all of the proposed legislation to date has
three main deficiencies:
1.
The tax percent
should be fixed to be a total replacement of all or whatever funds are selected.
A change in the tax rate should require a referendum by the voters.
2.
There should be
spending limitations incorporated so if a surplus is generated in good economic
times it will not be squandered. One suggestion is not to allow budgets to
increase over a given percent from the previous year. The surplus money could be
invested to help in poor economic times.
3.
The tax revenue generated for a specific purpose should not be
transferable to other funds and has legal language that prohibits it.