Henry George Foundation of America
At the Henry George Foundation we believe there is a better way to finance our governments, combat sprawl without breaking the public bank, and are interested in helping the disadvantaged without establishing new layers of intrusive and uncaring bureaucracy.
Progress without Poverty. . . Land Value Tax - Universal Abatement
A land value tax replaces the current property tax by collecting increasingly higher percentages of revenue from land instead of buildings, a method used successfully in cities across Pennsylvania, including Harrisburg and Allentown.
Land values are publicly created, permanently available , and will not hurt the poor or hinder economic recovery, so taxing them is both efficient and equitable.
Implementation of a Land Value Tax/Universal Abatement would extend some of the tax relief enjoyed by 10 year abatement properties to all productive property owners and shift most of the added burden to the underutilized and vacant land across the city that has been benefiting from low taxes for decades.
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Current Philadelphia Council District Analysis
A tax on land, if properly enforced, cannot be avoided and thus is one of the most reliable sources for revenue. Special case hardships could apply for short-term deferrals or long-term liens, either of which would freeze increases for qualified applicants.
"Removing almost all business taxes, including property taxes on improvements, excepting only taxes reflecting the marginal social cost of public services rendered to specific activities, and replacing them with taxes on site values, would substantially improve the economic efficiency of the jurisdiction." William Vickrey, professor of economics and Nobel Laureate
Philadelphia 2011 Budget
