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Tax reform conference
By R. Joshua Vincent
Wednesday, 07/27/05
(1122479710220)
The Council of Georgist Organizations announces the 25th North American Conference in Philadelphia, PA Radisson Warwick Hotel - August 3rd to the 7th, 2005.
The Theme of the Conference is "Champions of Tax Reform."
America's cities are making slow progress back to a modicum of vitality. Yet, this progress comes at a cost: Millions of dollars in tax subsidies, givebacks, and spending. This can't go on forever. New ideas to make cities again masters of their own destinies are rising to the surface.
You're invited to an intense and full discussion of one aspect of city rejuvenation, on Thursday August 4th, 2005 at 9AM in Philadelphia: land value taxation.
An idea making more and more headway is land value taxation (LVT). What is LVT? Simply put: Whereas the typical real property tax taxes both land and the improvements on the land at the same rate, land value taxation taxes land at a higher rate while simultaneously reducing, or even eliminating, the tax on improvements.
Since land is the one "species" of property or wealth that cannot be taxed out of existence, cities, especially older ones, are looking to LVT as a way to provide a stable revenue source without punishing investment.
LVT has been studied extensively in Philadelphia, but has not yet been adopted. Why? We'll hear from city leaders, policy experts, and community activists. Speakers include City Controller Jonathan Saidel, Brett Mandel of Philadelphia Forward, and Joshua Vincent of the Philadelphia-based Center for the Study of Economics.
Political barriers, lack of knowledge and unfamiliarity with LVT will be discussed. The upcoming Philadelphia reassessment in 2006 will be covered, with assessment and tax experts exploring the impact on homeowners, businesses and neighborhoods.
Also on the afternoon of August 4th, Dave Wetzel, Vice-Chair of London Transport from the UK will speak about value capture, congestion charging and other urgent transit issues. You'll hear how LVT in the UK is making its way forward on a parallel track with Philadelphia.
Local host: Center for the Study of Economics - www.urbantools.net manager@urbantools.net 1518 Walnut Street, Suite 604 Philadelphia, Pa 19102 215.545.6004
Full Program Registration: contact: Sue and Scott Walton, Conference Administrators CGO, PO Box 57, Evanston, IL 60204
847.475.0391 or Toll Free 888.262.9015 Fax 775.248.8630
swalton@surfbest.net