Toronto amalgamation Provincial legislation determines municipal responsibilities and what taxes municipalities can levy Provincial governments set standards for service provision Municipalities cannot run an operating deficit Municipal borrowing is restricted Unconditional transfers: per capita and equalization Conditional transfers: mainly for social services (Ontario), transportatio. [...] TOOLS TO ENCOURAGE MUNICIPAL COOPERATION Tax base sharing Pooling borrowing Inter-municipal agreements/cost sharing Development charges Special purpose bodies Conditional transfers Public-private partnerships TAX BASE SHARING WHAT IS IT? Sharing of growth in the tax base Each municipality contributes a portion of its tax base to a regional pool % of base or % of growth in the b. [...] PAUL, US 2.8 million people 2 central cities; 7 counties; 143 cities; 43 townships; 48 school districts Minnesota Fiscal Disparities Act passed in 1971 to address increasing property tax rates, tax base and rate disparities, and inter-jurisdictional competition for development Opposition to the bill in the courts Tax base sharing finally went into effect in 1975 TAX BASE SHARING HOW DOES. [...] if a community is below the average market value, they receive a larger share of the pool) Commercial/industrial property taxed at local rate and area-wide rate; area-wide rate reduces differences across the region TAX BASE SHARING WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES? Way for communities to share in community’s growth Reduces competition for tax base Does not alter structure of local governments or re. [...] computers, office supplies Shared use of in-house legal counsel Shared use of planner VICTORIA, CANADA Inter-municipal business licensing COST SHARING WHAT ARE THE ADVANTANGES? Potential for cost saving Ability to deal with peak and non-peak periods Access to improved levels of expertise Maintains local autonomy but ...
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