The following principles have been developed to guide decision making about the type of municipal tax system that should be created for HRM.
Please read each principle and its corresponding definition. Which principles are most important to you?
If you were unable to attend one of our workshops, we still want to hear from you. Please provide your comments below, they will be forwarded to the Tax Reform Commitee for consideration.
Adequacy
The tax system should produce the necessary revenue in the most efficient manner possible.
Balance
To the degree possible, government should avoid over-reliance on any one tax or set of taxes. The tax system should be balanced among a number of taxes.
Broad Base
Individual taxes should be broadly based, minimizing tax exemptions, to provide even treatment of all taxpayers and to keep tax rates as low as possible.
Economic Competitiveness
To the extent possible, the tax system should be designed to enhance provincial and local economic development or at the least should not hinder development.
Efficiency
The tax system should not unnecessarily or unintentionally interfere with private economic decisions.
Equity
Taxes are applied fairly and consistently to all taxpayers.
Intergovernmental Linkages
Tax decisions should recognize the connections between provincial and local tax systems.
Simplicity
The tax laws should be as simple as possible to minimize compliance costs for taxpayers and enforcement cost for government tax administrators.
Transparency
The tax system is clear and understood by taxpayers.
Other Please describe
