http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-12-13/payroll-tax-cuts/51887278/1
Will be interesting to see how long this can be prolonged until negotiations actually begin to take place... reasonable discourse could really help move this along & benefit all.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Data Driven Michigan - Tax Collections!
http://bridgemi.com/2011/11/what-was-shadow-tax-cut-in-your-town/#.Tth2bnO-ZWp
This site reveals interesting data on the state of Michigan's tax collection. The impact of drastic changes in tax collection over a two year period has had a massive impact on local government. An example of a struggling local government and inadequate revenue streams is my favorite little city: Ypsilanti. Between 2008-2010 Ypsi Township has experienced a -12.87% decrease in tax collection, while the City of Ypsi has been hit by a -15.72% decrease in collections. These numbers explain recent dramatic reductions in police and fire services, as well as street lighting and other vital public services. Meanwhile, less than half an hour away, Ann Arbor City has only experienced a -3.12% change in tax collections. This is interesting because the cities are not only so close, but also because they are both towns with large public universities. However, the industries and populations of each town are very different . Ann Arbor has much less of an industrial based economy; Ypsi relies more upon service and labor (also historically the auto industry). The change in tax revenue is evidence of the disproportionate hardship experienced in industrial towns as opposed to more diversified, academic based cities, caused by a downturn in the economy. Unfortunately, this results in massive cuts in social programs and government operations in areas that have a far greater need for such services (such as Ypsi).
This site reveals interesting data on the state of Michigan's tax collection. The impact of drastic changes in tax collection over a two year period has had a massive impact on local government. An example of a struggling local government and inadequate revenue streams is my favorite little city: Ypsilanti. Between 2008-2010 Ypsi Township has experienced a -12.87% decrease in tax collection, while the City of Ypsi has been hit by a -15.72% decrease in collections. These numbers explain recent dramatic reductions in police and fire services, as well as street lighting and other vital public services. Meanwhile, less than half an hour away, Ann Arbor City has only experienced a -3.12% change in tax collections. This is interesting because the cities are not only so close, but also because they are both towns with large public universities. However, the industries and populations of each town are very different . Ann Arbor has much less of an industrial based economy; Ypsi relies more upon service and labor (also historically the auto industry). The change in tax revenue is evidence of the disproportionate hardship experienced in industrial towns as opposed to more diversified, academic based cities, caused by a downturn in the economy. Unfortunately, this results in massive cuts in social programs and government operations in areas that have a far greater need for such services (such as Ypsi).
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