How do you feel about taxing commuters to supplement promotion of the cityâ??s convention industry? The idea was floated
in
an article by IBJ reporter Anthony Schoettle about the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association asking for more money to attract events to the expanded
Indiana Convention Center.
The ICVA wants $3 million to $5 million more a year from a major funding source, the Capital Improvement Board, which has its own financial problems operating Lucas Oil Stadium and other properties.
City-County Council President Bob Cockrum suggested a tax of 0.25 percent on incomes of people living in outlying counties but working in Marion County.
Past discussions about a commuter tax have gone nowhere for fear of driving more businesses out of Marion County. Yet, Indianapolis officials point out that surrounding counties benefit plenty from their proximity to Indianapolisâ??and scarcely lift a finger to help.
Thoughts?
The ICVA wants $3 million to $5 million more a year from a major funding source, the Capital Improvement Board, which has its own financial problems operating Lucas Oil Stadium and other properties.
City-County Council President Bob Cockrum suggested a tax of 0.25 percent on incomes of people living in outlying counties but working in Marion County.
Past discussions about a commuter tax have gone nowhere for fear of driving more businesses out of Marion County. Yet, Indianapolis officials point out that surrounding counties benefit plenty from their proximity to Indianapolisâ??and scarcely lift a finger to help.
Thoughts?
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I don't know what Bob Cockrum is thinking. Maybe he is just wanting to raise the Marion county payroll tax and present it as a tax increase on outsiders.
Anyone who suggests new taxes in the current economy ought to have his or her head examined. We didn't create the CIB's problem, don't ask us to bankroll their way out of it.
However, that said, certain jobs in Marion County should benefit from the improvements to the infrastructure, so adding to a type of County Option tax on income might be a consideration. That said, all the donut counties already have this tax and I think if you work in one county and live in another--your home takes precedence so this would mean a 'new' type of payroll tax if it only applies to commuters who work in Marion and live in Carmel for example.
I doubt that adding 33% more staff to the convention bureau by adding 7 people will do anything more than increase their costs. The new director needs to be much more creative than adding people.
While the experts like to say that thousands of dollars flow to the economy with each convention, those numbers are hardly easy to document. The conventioneers stay downtown--they don't drive over to shop and eat in Plainfield!
That said, those who make the big dollar salaries in Marion County probably have some responsibility to support better infrastructure--but unfortunately that will also affect the people making minimum wage working at the hotels and restaurants. Glad this isn't my problem to solve.
Don't let facts ruin a good emotional moment. Don't let emotion ruin a great city. Let's create a great dialog to discuss what matters to the region...all of our collective sustainability depends upon it!
When the Carmelite drives to work downtown on Meridian or Keystone, it is on streets built, maintained, and cleared at my expense. I dig myself out of my residential side street while his property taxes pay for his cul-de-sac to be plowed. When the Fishers commuter has a wreck at Kessler & Binford, the Fishers police, fire, and ambulance don't respond...the IMPD and IFD do, courtesy of Marion County taxpayers.
The dialog is overdue IMO.
The VMT would be very effective and be able to reduce the need of Township Governments/County Governmental boundaries. Someone going from the south side of Marion County to Castleton should pay more than someone driving from Carmel to Castleton. The south sider is using far more infrastructure despite that they are not going from county to county. Now for all of those on this blog who dislike taxes (but seem to like services) a great way of getting out of paying this would be by riding public transit or biking.
Then again, this would favor the downtowners who pay the high costs everyday – not just at the lunch hour.
The VMT would be paid via a satelite feed or chip. You drive up to the gas station then the pump reads a running average of your mileage.
I would suggest using some of those taxes to improve IPS, however. Many people live just outside of Marion County so that their children won't go to IPS schools. I am in the process of doing just that due to pressure from my wife and our families. I wish I didn't have to, since I love Indianapolis.