Friday, November 14, 2003
Local Income Tax
The same magazine has a fascinating article about the review of local government finance in Scotland. The piece examines local income tax as an alternative and puts up some very weak arguments in an attempt to knock down this particular option. The clinching argument is that because Scotland's Finance Directors don't want it then it isn't going to happen. When one considers that local Income Tax will dismantle the labrythine and difficult to understand Council Tax Benefit system and the empires that have been built up around that under the control of Finance Directors then it is hardly surprising that they do not want it. It would be like turkeys voting for Christmas. The role of politicians is to overcome special interest groups like this and do what is best for the people they represent. I hardly think therefore that the opposition of Scottish Finance Directors will be a deciding factor in any decision.
