Detroit City Income Tax

[bartock]

I think the city should do some studies. The first survey should assess whether people who work in Detroit and pay 1.25% would consider living inthe city if their tax rate would stay the same.

The second survey should ask people who live outside the city if a reduction in the resident tax rate would entice them to move to Detroit.

The bottom line is that if the studies showed that a lower resident tax rate would bring people into the city, the city's revenues might not change because more people would be contributing, albeit at a lesser rate. The city gets the same revenue in its coffers and a higher population. A real win-win.

I'm guessing the problem with that would be the "taxation without representation problem." Right now, I'm paying half a resident's tax because, in theory, I'm not getting the full benefit of city services [[snicker). The taxation without representation camp would have a much better argument if the numbers were the same, and I wonder if it wouldn't be illegal.