Re: Land Value Tax
The way property taxes (LVT) work in most of the US is the property value pretty much follows with inflation so if they suddenly raise the rate much beyond inflation there is substantial push back from the citizenry. Also, it is largely a local thing and everyone knows or can easily look up exactly where the money goes with certain fractions set aside for education, infrastructure and services like police and fire.
In D.C. they have an interesting way to solve the rental/occupancy problem and that is to tax an empty building at a higher rate, 5% if actually empty, down to .85% if fully rented thus providing an incentive to acquire and keep tenants. Sure, the tenants wind up actually paying the tax but it provides a bit of leverage to tenants as landlords will actively try to keep their occupancy up and their tax down. Other landlords will also do their best to fill vacancies as well and may offer a rental at a lower rate if it means giving up a little extra rent in exchange for a lot lower tax. The trick of course is to find a rate that fits the locality.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
