This tidbit from a 1926 Single Tax monthly contains an important truth for our era. Today, it would be necessary to add "wages" to the list of things he ought not to be taxed on, since so many states and cities impose wage taxes on their residents. And in California and NYC, a large share of residents are renters. And equally important, it applies to how we tax businesses, many of which are tenants.
LEST WE FORGET
Nothing should be left undone to prevent waste and promote efficiency in government. Public officials should be closely watched to see that they render full service.
But when all is said and done in the way of securing the wisest outlay of tax money, it should not he forgotten that more harm and injustice can be done to the individual citizens in taking money from the wrong persons than in wasting it.
When a new pavement, water, light, or school is put in, it makes the neighborhood a more desirable place in which to live, and rents go up. It is well to have these public utilities constructed as cheaply as possible. But it is far more important that the tenant who pays for the use of the public service in higher rent shall not also be taxed a second time on his personal property, goods, or household furniture to pay for the same service.
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