Comments on: Downtown Wichita Arena TIF District http://wichitaliberty.org/wichita-government/downtown-wichita-arena-tif-district/ Individual liberty, limited government, and free markets in Wichita and Kansas Fri, 18 May 2012 14:45:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Joe http://wichitaliberty.org/wichita-government/downtown-wichita-arena-tif-district/comment-page-1/#comment-524 Joe Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:52:54 +0000 http://wichitaliberty.org/?p=906#comment-524 You have a point. But the simularities is that both the city, with their TIF district, and your suggestions (that everybody pay the same tax rate regardless of any part of town), that no TIF districts be made, both are modeled to influence market incentives. Your suggestion is that let the markets decide. And I agree with that. But when the municipalities have an inherit interest in spurring development in certain parts of town and they use incentives, in a way, that ARE market forces at work. If a municipality says, invest here and get a tax abatement, is that not the same as a company saying 'buy my product because it's cheaper than the competition?' I'm all for less taxes or having your end of the taxes pay for the improvements in the area, why does this seem to fly in the face of free markets? It is not like that the city is forcing businesses to relocate downtown or really punishing anybody else. All they are saying is that this area of town, your property taxes will pay for the improvements in this area. I see nothing wrong with that. You have a point. But the simularities is that both the city, with their TIF district, and your suggestions (that everybody pay the same tax rate regardless of any part of town), that no TIF districts be made, both are modeled to influence market incentives.

Your suggestion is that let the markets decide. And I agree with that. But when the municipalities have an inherit interest in spurring development in certain parts of town and they use incentives, in a way, that ARE market forces at work.

If a municipality says, invest here and get a tax abatement, is that not the same as a company saying ‘buy my product because it’s cheaper than the competition?’

I’m all for less taxes or having your end of the taxes pay for the improvements in the area, why does this seem to fly in the face of free markets?

It is not like that the city is forcing businesses to relocate downtown or really punishing anybody else. All they are saying is that this area of town, your property taxes will pay for the improvements in this area.

I see nothing wrong with that.

]]> By: Bob Weeks speaks « Douglas and Main http://wichitaliberty.org/wichita-government/downtown-wichita-arena-tif-district/comment-page-1/#comment-522 Bob Weeks speaks « Douglas and Main Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:50:35 +0000 http://wichitaliberty.org/?p=906#comment-522 [...] August 5, 2008 · No Comments …to the Wichita City Council about TIF districts. [...] [...] August 5, 2008 · No Comments …to the Wichita City Council about TIF districts. [...]

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