Budget Analysis of Morristown, TN Like a majority of state and local governments, the City of Morristown raises revenue through taxation, fees, grants, and issuing bonds for capital projects (City of Morristown, 2017; Hyman, 2014). Like a vast majority of the United States, the "Great Recession" impacted the budget of Morristown, primarily through a loss in the city's manufacturing base (City of Morristown, 2017). Thankfully, since the end of the "Great Recession" Morristown finds its economic situation improving, which can be viewed through an analysis of the city's budgets from 2015 to the present. Revenue Trends Revenue Source: 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 Net Increase/Decrease Property Tax $8,835,000 $10,510,000 $10,610,000 $1,775,000 …show more content…
This tax rate increase along with other revenue sources, including grants from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) completely funded a one year, $2,000,000 paving project (City of Morristown, 2017). Per TN state law, property tax rates have an inverse relationship an aim to stay revenue neutral in regards to budgeting (City of Morristown, 2017). This means that when property values increase, the tax rate is reduced. The rational for this stems from the fact that when property values decrease, the tax rate is increased in order to maintain the same revenue from prior years (City of Morristown, 2017). While the property taxes are supposed to be revenue neutral per state law, the city's actions may seem wrong. However, the City of Morristown (2018) points out: It should be noted that incentive programs such as Tax increment financing (TIF) payments for major commercial developments and PILOT (Payment-in-Lieu-of-Tax) programs for industrial projects partially offset this growth in revenue. The cost of these programs is shown as an expense in the special appropriations section of the budget. The increase in the tax rate resulted in new revenue of about $750,000 above the growth of property tax revenue from development. (p. 53) The two main areas that saw decreases in revenue over the past three years are licenses, permits, and fees along with intergovernmental revenue. The
For this reason, when the state needs more money, it has to raise sales tax or cut department spending. For example, in 1984 the sale tax was 4.25 percent, but only six years later it rose to 6.25 percent. Furthermore, cities, counties, transit authorities, and other taxing agents may levy a sales tax up to an additional 2% combined, for a total maximum sales tax of 8.25 percent (Lavine 11).
In the eighties the city experienced a twelve percent drop in population growth, and from the nineties until now, they have maintained an average of a two percent population increase each ten years” (www.cityofboston.gov, 2008) Its economy is greatly impacted by the universities and colleges in the city, it has over 100 universities and colleges in the Greater Boston area. Tourism is a huge part of its successful economy, “in 2004 tourists spent $7.9 billion and made the city one of the ten most popular tourist locations in the country.” (Boston: Economy. Thomson Gale (Thomson Corporation) 2006.)
Property tax is a charge on property that the owner is responsible for paying. The tax is constructed on the value of the property one owns and is often estimated by local or municipal governments. When paying a property tax bill, the money goes to a number of important programs, city employees, police officers, firefighters, and public works departments also receive pay. The property tax money is used to pay for parks, traffic construction, street lights, sidewalks, and public transportation. Imposing a cap on property taxes would not only impact communities but it will also create several major problems. Cities would be affected and unable to hire employees in the public safety, since salaries and other benefits would be increased. A cap would reduce job establishment and damage the state's economic growth. The cap would also create more traffic problems by limiting
This memo is to serve as description of how the economy can impact projections related to revenues and expenditures in regards to the city budget. Several examples will be provided including explanations on why these items can have a tumultuous effect on the city budget. These examples include the effect property taxes and income taxes had on our fiscal stability as well as how even with proper accounting and financial reporting, the budget still fell victim to the economy.
This was also claimed as a benefit of the Texas Lottery and look what happened to that? It is all well and good to say something will work but until it is in place, would one not know for sure. Unfortunately, the cost of implementing such a personal tax would blow the benefits right out of the water. It would be not be cost effective to propose such a tax, since the start up costs would be prohibitive. Both counties and cities receive huge revenues in their collection of sales tax. To consider cutting that back would be
f. In December, the 2012 property tax bill for $1,600 was received from the city. The taxes, which have not been recorded, will be paid on February 15, 2013.
Patrick Henry once stated,”Give me liberty or give me death.” This means that the people of America were willing to fight to the death for the to be free.This paper will discuss Massachusett’s present and past history during the time of the Revolutionary War; as well as the causes of the war, Sons of Liberty, and important battles.
Alexandria, Virginia is home to over 8,000 thriving businesses and organizations. The City's budget serves as the blueprint for financial decisions implemented during the fiscal year. The FY 2011 Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) maintained its commitment to the residents of Alexandria. The General Fund is $531.6 million, an increase of 0.3 percent over last year’s budget maintaining all of the core city services despite the challenging economic conditions. Alexandria residents will pay about $125 more in property taxes along with higher fees for parking meters and storm-water management projects, among other services. The real estate taxes increased slightly but still remain among the lowest in the Northern Virginia region. In the budget, $167.9 million was allocated to the Alexandria City Public Schools, and a $1.6 million increase was set aside for transit subsidy. The final change
First of all, Property Taxes, Revenues and Interests are worth-based taxes paid on various types of property (e.g. residential and commercial real estate, motor vehicles, farm machinery, etc.). The body charged with tax collection is responsible for taxing authority appraises the
When I enrolled in Tabb High School, the administration was obsessed with teaching students two things, the Standards of Learning (S.O.L.) and the importance of college. As all of us were freshmen, the thought of college meant very little for us but by the time we became seniors, it was the only thing on our minds. We understood that knowledge is power and that we must find new knowledge to better ourselves personally and economically.
According to Singers(Aug 24,2017), ITEP’S (July 2017), (July 2017), (Aug 2011), and(December 2011), higher sales and gas tax in Connecticut have consequences and a solution proposed to reduce tax burden on low income family. Based on the readings and my understanding of this topic, I conclude that increasing sales and gas taxes in Connecticut to fix a budget crisis will be financially harmful to low income families and needs to be addressed with the new policy. Singer(Aug 24,2017), pointed out that, Connecticut legislators are deciding to increase the sales tax from its current level to 6.85 percent to fix a budget deficit, estimated to reach $3.5 billion in two years and improve state aid to towns.
One way municipalities aim to increase their tax revenues is by making themselves competitive amongst other municipalities. They want to be competitive to attract firms to locate or relocate within their limits. Policymakers increase their city’s appeal by offering tax credits and other incentives for the business to choose them. Policymakers believe if they cities can attract new firms by investing money they will come out on top in the end. In HBO’s The Wire, we see local policymakers deciding whether they should invest revenue in the expansion of a shipping port to bring in increased future revenue and also to make them more competitive with
The majority of Kentucky’s revenue comes from personal income tax and sales and use tax, 41 percent and 33 percent respectively in 2015. Sales tax is the second largest source of revenue for the state and has steadily increased over the last 5 years. The 2015 fiscal year showed an increase in sales tax revenue of 4.4 percent, $136.2 million, from the 2014 fiscal year. Sales tax helps fund Kentucky’s General Fund, which funds a variety of services including education, health and family services, justice and public safety, and transportation. The increase in revenue from sales tax better funds these services; however, Kentucky is facing funding issues. Changes to sales tax can create additional sales tax revenue, which would greatly benefit the state.
Proposition 2 ½ (MGL Chapter 580 of the Acts of 1980), also known as Property Tax Levy or levy, is a Massachusetts law passed by ballot vote in November of 1980. Its purpose is to limit the amount of money city or town can raise from property taxes. There are three
But property taxes are not always local taxes, and whether they are or are not local, like all taxes they must also be considered from a more general policy perspective. From this perspective, property taxes may be viewed, depending upon one’s assumptions, the environment in which they are applied, and their design and effectiveness, as an equitable and efficient way of raising revenue or they may be considered to be a regressive and undesirable form of public finance.