OKay UT, time to put your "money where your mouth is"...

[js97]

There's obviously an overwhelming support on here to ensure minimal service cuts to TCHC, Libraries, homeless shelters, food programs, etc etc etc...

I just received my Property Tax Bill, and it gives an opportunity for residents to donate to their favourite service.

http://www.toronto.ca/taxes/vco.htm

What sayeth you?

 

[kkgg7]

There's obviously an overwhelming support on here to ensure minimal service cuts to TCHC, Libraries, homeless shelters, food programs, etc etc etc...

I just received my Property Tax Bill, and it gives an opportunity for residents to donate to their favourite service.

http://www.toronto.ca/taxes/vco.htm

What sayeth you?

No, since I use none of these.

 

[jn_12]

No, since I use none of these.

Really? Do you sit in your house all day and never leave? And I'd argue you're using one those services right this very second as Emergency Services is waiting for your call in the case of an emergency. Otherwise my guess is you use public infrastructure, whether it's roads, sidewalks or transit to get from your house to anywhere you need to go.

(unless of course you don't live in Toronto...)

 

[voxpopulicosmicum]

Really? Do you sit in your house all day and never leave? And I'd argue you're using one those services right this very second as Emergency Services is waiting for your call in the case of an emergency. Otherwise my guess is you use public infrastructure, whether it's roads, sidewalks or transit to get from your house to anywhere you need to go.

...which is why taxes are collected to pay for them, otherwise cheap-ass freeloaders wouldn't pay for the services they use.

I'm really not sure what the OP is saying? If the point is that municipal services should be funed by charitable donations, I think the second post in this thread demonstrates the folly of such a scheme.

 

[DSCToronto]

While I am all in favour of reversing most of the Ford cuts, the donations received will not really do this. As far as I know any donations are to support "approved" services rather than reverse specific program cuts. I suppose if you give to libraries the Library Board could use the $$ to buy more books but I do not think yiu can use this to keep a closed service, like High park Zoo, open.

 

[Electrify]

The problem with this is that if the city doesn't know how much it is getting, it is hard to plan out a budget or plan for what services it can provide. If the city said they were $250 million short and essentially needed $100 per person average, and gave ample time to get people to donate, that would be one thing. However this would just go into general revenue.

With that said, if my municipality did something like mentioned above, I would try and donate what I could.

 

[jn_12]

...which is why taxes are collected to pay for them, otherwise cheap-ass freeloaders wouldn't pay for the services they use.

I'm really not sure what the OP is saying? If the point is that municipal services should be funed by charitable donations, I think the second post in this thread demonstrates the folly of such a scheme.

ya I know, I was just pointing out the absurdity of his comment.

 

[kkgg7]

Really? Do you sit in your house all day and never leave? And I'd argue you're using one those services right this very second as Emergency Services is waiting for your call in the case of an emergency. Otherwise my guess is you use public infrastructure, whether it's roads, sidewalks or transit to get from your house to anywhere you need to go.

(unless of course you don't live in Toronto...)

let me review again

Children's Services - no, won't ever either
Cultural Services and Museums - no, plus museum in Toronto are VERY expensive to visit already
Emergency Services (Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services) - hardly
Employment and Social Services - no
Long Term Care Homes and Services - no
Parks, Forestry and Recreation - hardly, not a fan of nature
Roads and Transportation services - no car, but we do need to walk on streets I guess
Shelter, Support and Housing - no
Toronto Animal Services - no
Toronto Public Libraries - no
Transit - occasionally

So basically I use parks, transit occasionally. Parks maybe 3 times a year, transit 5/6 times a months (which is not free).
Police do need to be there no matter what I suppose. I have used very little medical service.

In general, I am 100% sure that my $25,000 income tax, plus property tax plus sales tax every year is far more than enough to pay for the "services" I enjoyed.
Yes, I prefer minimum free services and lower tax. Those who need the services pay for them.

 

[kkgg7]

...which is why taxes are collected to pay for them, otherwise cheap-ass freeloaders wouldn't pay for the services they use.

I agree with you tax can't be voluntary. However, we should only force people to pay taxes for service that every taxpayers gets to benefit from, not those only part of the population can.
for example, many people don't need children services, or shelter or employment benefit etc in the entire life, and it would be wrong to force them to pay costs associate with those, because essential you are forcing them to pay other people' bills.

 

[Electrify]

let me review again

Children's Services - no, won't ever either

So you don't care about families which need child services so they can make a living, and can't afford private care? Them using welfare is better, I suppose.

Cultural Services and Museums - no, plus museum in Toronto are VERY expensive to visit already

Been awhile since I've been to a museum too, I'll admit. But I understand their importance, plus they help boost our local tourism economy as well.

Emergency Services (Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services) - hardly

You should be thankful. And if you ever do need to use them, I'd sure hope that they are there to help.

Employment and Social Services - no

Agreed. Without these services, those who are unemployed and don't have welfare will end up resorting to crime to survive. Thus, you will get increased value out of the emergency services...

Long Term Care Homes and Services - no

What about family or friends who are getting older? I'd hope that you'd hope they are able to have a quality of life as they get older and need support.

Parks, Forestry and Recreation - hardly, not a fan of nature

I'm certain that your local park helps to increase your property values.

Roads and Transportation services - no car, but we do need to walk on streets I guess

And the goods and services you use everyday, they just teleport themselves to use I suppose?

Shelter, Support and Housing - no

See my response to Employment and Social Services...

Toronto Animal Services - no

Don't mind stray animals walking the streets? Got it.

Toronto Public Libraries - no

Wish mine was closer. Great resource for hard copy knowledge.

Transit - occasionally

Imagine how much more congested your daily drive would be without it. Granted, seeing how little it is subsidized here, it might be worth increasing the fare to a point that it covers the full cost of the trip.

So basically I use parks, transit occasionally. Parks maybe 3 times a year, transit 5/6 times a months (which is not free).
Police do need to be there no matter what I suppose. I have used very little medical service.

In general, I am 100% sure that my $25,000 income tax, plus property tax plus sales tax every year is far more than enough to pay for the "services" I enjoyed.
Yes, I prefer minimum free services and lower tax. Those who need the services pay for them.

Your income tax goes to the province and feds, these are municipally funded services which get only limited funding from higher levels of government. If it makes you feel any better, I wish I made about $80k per year, even if 30% went to taxes. There is no other place in the free world where they get such high quality services for such a low tax rate, even if you don't benefit from them directly. And there are plenty of credits and rebates you can take advantage of to make that number even lower too.

 

[nfitz]

No, since I use none of these.

I believe that this is not true, and that you do use some of the services that are listed.

Edit ... oh look, later on you admitted that you were, as usual ... wrong ...

Perhaps if transit is so unimportant to you then, you can stop trolling the transit threads? And if parks are so unimportant to you, you can stop with the trolling the St. James Park thread?

 

[Justin10000]

Great, a thread for the greedy morons to vent.

 

[GenerationW]

we should only force people to pay taxes for service that every taxpayers gets to benefit from, not those only part of the population can.

Welcome to fantasy island!

 

[Dandy Horse]

this is such a silly reactionary thing. the government cut stuff that was important, and then the people were like 'dont cut that, we need that, if you want, we'll pay more even!' and then the government was like "still cutting it, but, hey look, we'll make this website where you can pay more if you want". its so stupid

 

[kkgg7]

this is such a silly reactionary thing. the government cut stuff that was important, and then the people were like 'dont cut that, we need that, if you want, we'll pay more even!' and then the government was like "still cutting it, but, hey look, we'll make this website where you can pay more if you want". its so stupid

the thing with budget cutting is, nobody likes it, but it has to be done to achieve a balanced budget. The entire world is doing it now.