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Dawe backs calls to scrap 'unfair' council tax



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CITY leader Jenny Dawe has hit out at the "unfair" council tax system and backed plans for a new local income tax.
Speaking at a council meeting, she said the existing set-up penalises elderly residents.

"I'm very much in favour of a local income tax," she said.

"Both parties (in the Lib Dem/SNP administration] are in favour of a local income tax, but our (Lib Dem] party puts more on the word 'local', and I hope we can persuade our SNP colleagues of that."

Last week, finance secretary John Swinney published the SNP government's consultation document on its local income tax proposals.

The plan to scrap the council tax and introduce the new tax, set at 3p in the pound across Scotland, was one of the party's key manifesto pledges at last year's Holyrood elections.

The local income tax would have to be collected from salaries and wages, unlike the council tax which is collected by councils.





The full article contains 167 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 22 March 2008 10:08 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Council tax
 
1

Joe,

The Willie Muir 22/03/2008 13:29:12
Bring back the old rating system. Tax property not incomes. Why should folk pay extra income tax to subsidise the wealthy living in mansions?
2

Tonto43,

Midlothian 22/03/2008 14:09:47
On the other hand why should people who go out and WORK, and earn a decent living have to pay more to get their buckets emptied or to subsidise transport.
Ability to pay seems more like lets encourage the tired, sick and down right lazy to continue doing little or nothing at all, while they continue to be a drain on the benefits system and get everything handed to them on a plate.
Get the lazy back to work before you penalise those who work hard to make half a decent living. Cure the welfare system first before taxing the hard working, who are struggling to keep their heads above water as it is.
3

Moscow Central 42,

22/03/2008 14:59:44

The jury is still out on whether Local Income Tax would actually deliver a fairer system. However, one thing is beyond doubt. The Scottish Liberal Democrats' proposal to allow local authorities to set their own level of Local Income Tax would be a recipe for disaster. Having witnessed the staggering incompetence of the present Lib Dem Administration in Edinburgh it just does not bear thinking about. Can you imagine what would happen to the citizens of the bloated bureacracies which are Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Fife, to name a few.
4

tomias,

Edinburgh 22/03/2008 15:44:33
Dawe doesnt answer e-mails nor letters- punt that around as well.
5

Auld Twa,

Edinburgh 22/03/2008 15:49:42
LIT would certainly be fairer than the present system.
Don't forget that you currently pay council tax from your net pay after tax, LIT would come off your gross pay.
6

Moscow Central 42,

22/03/2008 15:59:36
4Tomias

Thatis hardly surprising since Dear Leader Dawe is not reknowned for open communication, even with her fellow Councillors. She does, however, as she is constantly telling us all in her Leader's reports, want the good citizens of Edinburgh to be much more involved in the process of governing their city. Hypocritical or what!
7

Legacy,

NE 22/03/2008 16:18:37
A Helluva lot of low to middle earners, will be better off paying an extra 3% LIT, than an Iniquitous Council Tax.
Most layabouts (those that can work, but won't/don't!) Pay no Council Tax anyway, nothing new there!
LIT instead of CT, will bring some fairness to the ill thought out, based 'not' on ability to Pay Council Tax debacle.
8

Rob - Honest Toun,

22/03/2008 21:47:08
Auld Twa is richt that ye pey yer Cooncil tax aff whit ye've got left efter peyin Income Tax. LIT howanever winnae be taen aff yer gross pey but, juist the same as Income Tax, it will be taen aff that pairt o yer gross that's left takin awa yer Tax Free Allowance.

www.scots-tung.com
9

Legacy,

23/03/2008 01:15:24
#8 AM2
'Ability to pay doesn’t correspond to raw income.'
Try telling that to the Pensioners/War Pensioners/Disabled, who are unable to work, and find themselves 20 quid a week over the rebate cut off point, which 20 quid goes towards paying 'Full' Council Tax, all because they get 20 quid a week extra. Raw Income? Yep, that's about right!
Which 20 quid again might see them able to afford another bar on the electric fire, but instead it gets snaffled by the Iniquitous Council Tax.
Yep, it sure is a FAIR system!!!




10

Klaus Dubois,

Edinburgh 23/03/2008 11:56:43
#2 - agree; penalising success seems to be thought of as vote winner by a lot of politicians these days. How often does the call go out for a 'windfall' tax when a company is seen to be being profitable. More often than not, this results in less local investment.
Before switching from council tax to a utopian LIT could local government bring itself under financial control ?
11

Angus R,

09/04/2008 15:49:09
personally cant see how a local tax on income would be fairer. It just penalises workers (especially higher paid) - why should someone pay more for their bucket to be emptied just because they earn a higher salary given they already pay more income tax (especially at higher rates)

 

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