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ndrosenThis is based on notes from the morning of Friday, July 28, 2017. After the presentations by first Dan Killoren and then Professor Andrew Theising, there was a Q&A session. Polly Cleveland said that whether land value taxation would work depends, as a practical matter on assessments.
Professor Theising had spoken of Jay Gould's role. Dr. Bill Batt said that Jay Gould's attorney, Thomas Gaskell, was a big Georgist in the 1880's. He quoted from an Illinois court case that involved the public trust doctrine. The court ruled that the State of Illinois could not alienate the land under Lake Michigan, because it was a public trust.
Alan Ridley asked who the opposition is in East Saint Louis. We need to know. Professor Theising said that there's a lot of poverty in East St. Louis, and most people don't own their own homes, but there are elderly homeowners who don't want to pay much in property tax. He contrasted Madison, Wisconsin, where taxes are high, but there are good government services.
Alanna Hartzok said that the thing to do is to let elderly homeowners postpone paying property taxes until they die or sell. Professor Theising said that what they're currently doing is cutting home assessments to zero, which is the wrong way to give relief.
There were other questions. Counties in Illinois cannot impose land value taxation; they would need a change in state law. Professor Theising said that it would be possible to take some steps toward LVT by improving assessments.
Joshua Vincent said that the infrastructure is smashed in East St. Louis. Professor Theising said that there infrastructure programs of the state and federal governments, which could be used to rebuild. There is environmental law, for example. East St. Louis currently has combined sewers, with household sewage and storm runoff going into the same sewers; the EPA doesn't like that.
Professor Theising had spoken of Jay Gould's role. Dr. Bill Batt said that Jay Gould's attorney, Thomas Gaskell, was a big Georgist in the 1880's. He quoted from an Illinois court case that involved the public trust doctrine. The court ruled that the State of Illinois could not alienate the land under Lake Michigan, because it was a public trust.
Alan Ridley asked who the opposition is in East Saint Louis. We need to know. Professor Theising said that there's a lot of poverty in East St. Louis, and most people don't own their own homes, but there are elderly homeowners who don't want to pay much in property tax. He contrasted Madison, Wisconsin, where taxes are high, but there are good government services.
Alanna Hartzok said that the thing to do is to let elderly homeowners postpone paying property taxes until they die or sell. Professor Theising said that what they're currently doing is cutting home assessments to zero, which is the wrong way to give relief.
There were other questions. Counties in Illinois cannot impose land value taxation; they would need a change in state law. Professor Theising said that it would be possible to take some steps toward LVT by improving assessments.
Joshua Vincent said that the infrastructure is smashed in East St. Louis. Professor Theising said that there infrastructure programs of the state and federal governments, which could be used to rebuild. There is environmental law, for example. East St. Louis currently has combined sewers, with household sewage and storm runoff going into the same sewers; the EPA doesn't like that.
