Gray Dawn

My latest letter to the editor regarding the "Old Folks Rebellion", whereby the empty nesters of New Jersey are trying to duck paying school taxes.


The June 8 Sentinel has yet another advocate of the
"Fair Tax" proposal making their case. In recap, the
"Fair Tax" proposal suggests that a flat 5% income
tax, administered by the state, will solve the
inequities resulting from the current property tax
based education funding. I see at least two big
problems baked into this proposal.

Problem 1: The "Fair Tax" proposal assumes that an
income tax is more "fair" than a property tax, because
those with more income must have more ability to pay.
This is only half true, as overall wealth is more
relevant than income when calculating the ability to
pay a bill, tax or otherwise. With all due respect,
many of the retirees and empty nesters promoting this
tax scheme are very well off, sitting on well funded
pensions and retirement plans, hundreds of thousands
in home equity, and have their child raising expenses
behind them. Forgive me if I have some reservations
about a scheme to ensure that they save a few thousand
more every year to feather their empty nests.

Solution: In order to accurately calculate who has
money to spare for education taxes, a wealth-based,
not income or property value-based tax, is most fair.
All state residents would submit the market value of
all of their real estate, financial, and personal
assets, less any outstanding mortgage and personal
debt. A percentage of the net wealth would be paid
for education. The rich get soaked, the poor walk
free. It could not be more fair.

Problem 2: The "Fair Tax" proposal hands over
administration of education funds to the state.
Centralizing control of funds in the state government
makes it easier for funds to be siphoned off and for
local interests to be shortchanged. Local control of
budgets is not without drawbacks, but I would not like
to see Trenton running my local schools.

Solution: All money collected in a given school
district should be submitted directly to that
district, where they can decide and oversee how that
money is spent.

No tax system is perfect, but the "Fair Tax" proposal
leaves much to be desired before it is really "fair".