Stirring the LVT Pot in Auckland
For a century, Wellington has always outpaced rival city Auckland. Why?
Bruce Sheppard
"Land is taxed because it is easy to collect, and secure, taxing people is hard to do and hard to collect. Whenever flat poll taxes have been introduced, councils are thrown out. It is simple really. People vote, businesses and absentee land owners do not, and big land holders who pay lots of rates only get one vote. As I have said before when all get to vote the poor will always vote to tax the rich, but not themselves, and perhaps this is equitable."
Brian Sheppard, writer of "Stirring the Pot" makes the central point of the efficient, just and essentially democratic nature of LVT. when councils hear the siren song of taxing buildings, they get tossed out on their ears.
Since the New Zealand Post hates LVT, the article is a surprise, but a welcome one.
