Georgism: Here, There and Everywhere: a Travelogue

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Georgism Here, There and Everywhere a Travelogue
Center for the Study of Economics
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Connecticut
Center for the Study of Economics

• General Assembly
•   Proposed Bill No. 379
•   January Session, 2009
•   LCO No. 1455
•     Referred to Committee on Planning and
  Development
•   Introduced by
•   SEN. LOONEY, 11th Dist.
•   AN ACT CONCERNING LAND VALUE TAXATION.
• Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
  Representatives in General Assembly convened
• That section 12-62a of the general statutes be
  amended to provide that any city may, by
  ordinance adopted by its legislative body, (1)
  classify real estate, excluding farm land, forest
  land and open space land, as (A) land or land
  exclusive of buildings, or (B) buildings on land,
  and (2) establish a different rate of property
  tax for each class, provided the higher rate
  shall apply to land or land exclusive of
  buildings.
• Statement of Purpose
• To give municipalities the option of enacting
  land value taxation to encourage economic
  development.

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Connecticut
Center for the Study of Economics

• General Assembly
•   Proposed Bill No. 392
•   January Session, 2009
•   LCO No. 2194
•     Referred to Committee on Planning and
  Development
•   Introduced by
•   SEN. MAYNARD, 18th Dist.
• SEN. STILLMAN, 20th Dist.
•   AN ACT AUTHORIZING MUNICIPALITIES TO ADOPT LAND
  VALUE TAXATION.
• Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
  Representatives in General Assembly convened
• That the general statutes be amended to authorize
  municipalities, by vote of its legislative body
  to (1) classify real estate as (A) land or land
  exclusive of buildings, or (B) buildings on land,
  and (2) establish a different rate of property
  tax for each class, provided the higher rate
  shall apply to land or land exclusive of
  buildings.
• Statement of Purpose
• To promote economic development and responsible
  growth through adoption of land value taxation.

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Connecticut
Center for the Study of Economics

• Why Connecticut?
• http//www.re-newlondoncouncil.org/
• Art Costa LVT Advocate

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New York
Center for the Study of Economics

• Why New York?
• Paul Kramer LVT Advocate
• Evan Lowenstein, Planner
• Partnership with HGFA and CSE
• Interest by City Government

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City Study of LVT New York
217 W. Main Street 179 191 W. Main Street
Current City Property Taxes 9,677 Proposed LVT
Property Taxes 8,552 Current City School
Taxes 21,469 Proposed LVT School
Taxes 18,967 Total Decrease of 3,627 Current
City Property Taxes 3,382 Proposed LVT Property
Taxes 6,515 Current City School
Taxes 7,502 Proposed LVT School
Taxes 14,453 Total Increase of 10,084
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New York
Center for the Study of Economics

• Why New York City?
• Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer
• Partnership with HGFA and CSE
• Interest by City Government
• ACTION David Paterson signed into law an act
  removing the preferential treatment of vacant
  land in Manhattan (A086662 ). Pushed by our
  colleague Manhattan Borough President MBP Scott
  Stringer, this is an important first step in
  bringing some rationality to what has been called
  one of the worst property tax systems in the
  world.

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Center for the Study of Economics

• Why New York City?
• Manhattan Borough President Stringer
• Law Introduced Vacant land becomes a new class
  of property. 2009?

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The World
Center for the Study of Economics

• Scotland
• LVT vs. Traditional Council Tax and Local Income
  Tax
• LVT Advocates
• Scottish Green Party

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The World
Center for the Study of Economics

• Ireland
• LVT in the Face of Severe Recession
• LVT Advocates FEASTA
• Partnered with CSE and HGFA

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The World
Center for the Study of Economics

• Zimbabwe
• LVT in the Face of Repression
• LVT Advocates Joshua Nkomo and Morgan
  Tsvangirai
• The Situation is Fraught With Violence AND Hope

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The World
Center for the Study of Economics

• Namibia
• LVT in the Face of Dispossession
• LVT Advocates The Government
• How it works the UNZimbabwe

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The World
Center for the Study of Economics

• The Antipodes
• LVT in the Face of Neglect
• LVT Advocates Georgists How?
• YouTubein It

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The World
Center for the Study of Economics

• LVT also exists in
• Hong Kong
• Singapore
• Estonia
• Denmark
• Vanuatu
• Etc.

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Right Here, Right Now
Center for the Study of Economics

• LVT Also Can Come Home

Land Value Tax Bottom Line
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Right Here, Right Now
Center for the Study of Economics

• LVT Is Home
• 1518 Walnut Street
• Philadelphia, PA 19102
• www.ourcommonwealth.org
• www.urbantools.org

Land Value Tax Bottom Line?