Cities/states have taxing ability. I'm sure that they don't want to exercise this ability to the extent needed to generate the funds that they need (political suicide) but they do have that option.
They also can sell city parks, community centers, athletic complexes etc. Probably not an action that most elected officials would want to be a part of, but it would be a way out.
RE: Cities/states have taxing ability.
Those able to pay taxes can easily LEAVE the cities for the suburbs, or relocate to a friendlier state. Then what?
“Cities/states have taxing ability. “
Taxing more than places where people could relocate to is what got them in this mess. Also, residents are no longer paying their property taxes. The only business of note still in Detroit is GM’s headquarters. I suspect they have a sweetheart deal to stay there.
Michigan and Detroit taxes are already so high that the population and the business base has been abandoning the city for decades. Tax increases merely exacerbate the problem. They solve nothing.
They also can sell city parks, community centers, athletic complexes etc. Probably not an action that most elected officials would want to be a part of, but it would be a way out.
Sell to whom? There are literally THOUSANDS of homes and properties in the Detroit area that can be bought for $1... and nobody is buying. Nobody wants to live in this Democrat paradise, and nobody wants to buy or build or relocate there.
Instead, LOWER taxes, and remove most of the oppressive Democrat anti-business regulations and rules, and Detroit might have a chance. Slicing the union pensions and benefits would improve those chances. Nothing else, short of a massive bailout, can possibly work.
Detroit taxes are already at the maximum state law will allow. They can’t increase taxation!
Detroit taxes are already at the maximum state law will allow. They can’t increase taxation!