Tag Archives: tax

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Government Incompetence: Idaho County violates Federal Law, Federal Judge orders the County to violate Idaho Law in order to pay off fine

In 2010, Boise County was found guilty of violating the Federal Fair Housing law.  They must now pay $5.4 million in fines, with 5.5% yearly interest.

Boise County tried to file for bankruptcy, but a Federal bankruptcy judge found the county can afford the bill.

Now, the Federal district court has ordered Boise County to violate the Idaho law on property tax limits, in order to raise the money to pay the Federal fine.

The Federal court wants Boise County officials to charge at least 3% over the state property tax cap.  Under state law a 2/3rds majority vote must OK such a move.

Idaho State Tax Commission officials are handling this like a hot potato, saying they don’t have the time to review the case, but they are working on a public press release to explain their position.

Boise County is required to make two payments per year, and have already made the first payment of $1.2 million.

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Idaho tax revenues for October fall short

The Idaho Division of Financial Management reported that October tax revenues were $1.6 million short of what was needed.

State officials were hoping for $210.6 million.  So far for the fiscal year 2012, overall tax revenues are $10.8 million below what’s hoped for!  Amazingly officials still think they’ll finish the 2012 fiscal year with a surplus!?

The biggest drop was seen in sales tax revenues, to the tune of $4.1 million!  So far Idaho sales tax revenues are short by $14 million!  Sales taxes are a good way to gauge how well your economy is doing, and it doesn’t look too good.

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International

Global Class War: Denmark taxes Fat, yet majority of Danes are Skinny, Jack Sprat’s wife the victim of elite nutritionists

Yet more proof that the Danish government’s tax on fat is about making money, not being healthy.  According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, only 10% of Danes are obese!

On a recent BBC World Have Your Say program, a Danish politician said that the purpose of a democratic representative government is to “find balance” in imposing social policies on the general public. Say what? I always thought a democratic representative government was supposed to do what the majority of the voting public wants!  Oh well, I’m still waiting for it to happen here in the United States.

Basically the Danish politician was admitting that Denmark is being run by a minority of do gooders that’re pushing their own agenda upon the majority of Danes.

Consider this: There is scientific evidence that it’s a high carbohydrate/sugar diet that actually makes you fat.  Now realize that the majority of Danes eat a high fat diet and only 10% are obese!!!  That’s 5% below the average for all of Europe.

There’s also plenty of evidence that shows skinny people are just as prone to conditions (like diabetes) as fat people.  In fact there’s growing evidence that most poor health conditions, in adults, are more influenced by genetics than what you eat.  Remember the old nursery rhyme about Jack Sprat?  There’s truth in it.

Business/Economics, International

What Economic Recovery? Germany & France pushing for tax on stock market deals, taking steps to turn the EU into a single economic & political entity

August 16, France and Germany decided against creating and selling Euro Bonds, and came up with another way to help raise money for EU governments; a stock market transaction tax.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Euro Bonds would come later, when the economic situation was more stable.  Instead he, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, are pushing for a new tax (as if Europeans didn’t have to deal with enough taxes).

The new financial transaction tax would affect the purchases made on stock markets.

Merkel and Sarkozy are also calling for more economic and political unity for the EU.  They want EU members to modify their constitutions to reflect commitment to building a strong, more united European Union, and, they want to create a new EU council to oversea efforts to create a more unified EU.  That council will meet twice a year, and have a president who serves a two year term.