Commission on tax - Local taxes must pay for local services

IT is widely expected that the report of the Commission on Taxation, which is to be finalised tomorrow will include proposals for a property tax, water charges and a carbon tax.

That these charges have seemed inevitable for some time will not make their imposition any more welcome. Family incomes will be reduced and tight margins will become even tighter. We cannot be certain that there will not be other charges because of our dire circumstances.

It is of little compensation to homeowners or businesses but local authorities will welcome the possibility, and that is all it can be, of a cash injection as many of them are facing dire financial circumstances as revenue gathered through development charges has dried up almost completely. Assuming, that is, that they get a portion of the funds collected.