News roundup: Buyer beware?

Posted by Philip Anselmo on September 18, 2008 - 8:32am
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Buyers should be wary of online ticket seller: TicketsMyWay.com, according to the Better Business Bureau of Buffalo. WBTA's Wayne Fuller reports that the bureau has received hundreds of complaints about the site that sells tickets to sports, music and theater venues online. Complaints include: not ever receiving the tickets, getting them too late or getting invalid tickets.

In other news, Mike Ranzenhofer was campaiging yesterday in Genesee County with Sen. Mary Lou Rath, Assemblyman Stephen Hawley and county Legislature Chair Pat Hancock. Ranzenhofer is running to replace Rath in the 61st Senate District. He will take on Democrat Joe Mesi in the general election. Fuller has this to say about Ranzenhofer's platform:

He says he has a three-part plan for tax reform. One part is the doubling of the current STAR exemption over a four year period. The second part is to cap property tax increases to 4 four percent of the inflation rate which ever is lower. Ranzenhofer said the third plank is reform of the Wicks and Taylor laws, backed by organized labor, that he says increases the cost of a public works project by 20 to 30 percent.

Posted by C. M. Barons on September 18, 2008 - 5:22pm
Property taxes are unfair. They should be eliminated. Why? Because ownership does not measure a person's tax obligation. Because not everyone that utilizes public service owns property. Because the bureaucracy necessary to manage property taxes is a burden in and of itself. Because upkeep on one's home should not incur a punitive tax increase.
My arguments are sound and so plain that no one can object. So why do they? #1 status quo. #2 public employees will lose their jobs. #3 NYSUT will go ballistic. ...These are EXCUSES and do not legitimize undermining everyone's financial security.
The answer is income tax. The mechanism and personnel are in place. We do not need to fund our schools, county and local governments from two coffers. Flat tax, 7% funds everything. No one expects a free ride- just make the ticket price fair.
STAR, rebates, caps- these are just patches; it's time to replace the whole roof!
Posted by Mark Potwora on September 18, 2008 - 6:41pm
Very well said C.M...But lets face it a flat tax is hard on some one at the bottom of the income ladder..But i do believe Property tax should be base more on income than the value of what some city assessor says your piece of property is worth..Example some one buy a house 30 years ago for 50,000..Now there are retired on social security ..city says house is now worth 200,000 but your income hasn't gone up.Plus the tax rate during that same time has tripled,you own the home but cannot afford the taxes so you have to sell...That is what is totally unfair...Like you said they
give you a few gimmicks to maybe knock your assessment down
but their not for sure,because the next year they can take them away...Its just a patch like you said..
Posted by Howard Owens on September 18, 2008 - 6:54pm
I favor all revenue through a consumption tax. Those who spend more can afford to pay more. If all you can afford is a used $400 canoe, you're taxed less; but if your taste and income drives you to buy a $400,000 yacht, the the 7 or 8 percent sales tax (maybe more like 12, if you did away with income tax) will cost you more. This protects the poor from over taxation and ensures those who have benefited the most from what a free society has to offer are giving the most back.

I don't have too big of a problem with a property tax, but maybe that should be weighted toward house value -- no tax for $80K and less; and more every $100K or so up.

There should be no federal taxing authority. Local agencies collect and disburse upward as warranted.