Posts tagged Taxes
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National links: Are we at the end of the age of driving?
Cars have grown to outnumber people in the US over the past 100 years, but the automobile industry has been a heavy burden on society. Large and slow-moving storms can be deadlier in areas with sprawl. Can vacancy taxes bring down the costs of homes in some areas? Keep reading…
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National links: What it takes to make congestion pricing work
Research from cities around the world shows how to make congestion pricing work. A data-driven approach to ending homelessness has been successful in multiple cities. Why don't most cities tax land values? Keep reading…
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Our property tax system rewards neglect and punishes investment in struggling neighborhoods
Here's a startling fact I've learned about new development in many struggling older cities. I had to be told this several times, by several credible sources, before I really believed it, because it just didn't seem possible: There are whole cities where every single private development project receives some sort of tax abatement or incentive. Keep reading…
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The DC Council may cut property taxes, but many want higher taxes to pay for affordable housing
The DC Council votes Tuesday on legislation to cut residential property taxes, barely a week after Mayor Muriel Bowser publicly tested support for tax increases on expensive properties. Both proposals were presented as options to expand housing affordability. Keep reading…
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Top posts of 2018: Surprise! The Mortgage Interest Deduction is now even more of a handout to the wealthy
Now that taxes have been filed (phew), we’re starting to get a look at how changes to the tax code made by the Republican Congress are affecting key programs. Keep reading…
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The DC Council just cut $20 million for homeless services to fund tax breaks for commercial properties
On December 4, the DC Council moved to divert an estimated $20 million in new tax funds it had pledged for homeless programs to instead reduce the property tax rate for commercial entities valued at $10 million or more. That could have funded permanent supportive housing for about 730 people or long-term housing vouchers to about 1,000 very low-income families. Keep reading…
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How property tax exemptions amplify racial inequity
Housing defines how residents share the wealth created by a city and how they access its assets and amenities. Population growth and demographic changes make their imprints through the housing market, shaped by how quickly supply responds to changes in demand. Keep reading…
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National links: Charlotte is planning for a car-free future
Charlotte, North Carolina envisions a downtown without cars. A Portland paper asked residents for examples of scooter riders behaving badly, but didn't exactly get what they asked for. Proposed federal gas tax legislation would also tax bicycles, electric vehicles, and transit. Keep reading…
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How corporate tax incentives work and why cities spend so much on them
Amazon’s nationwide HQ2 contest has brought concerns about taxpayer-funded incentives for big businesses to the fore. Some of the region’s residents are furious that companies making millions of dollars a year would be offered millions more to come to town, rather than those funds being spent on social services. But how do these corporate incentives actually work? Keep reading…
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To make ride-hailing work for urbanism, here’s what needs to happen
Ride-hailing services like Uber, Lyft, and Via have grown meteorically since launching just a few years ago. Meanwhile, transit ridership nationwide is declining, and some studies posit a direct connection. As a result, many transit supporters have sharply criticized these services. Some fears are warranted, but ride-hailing is also offering people a valuable transportation service. Keep reading…