Module 13

 

Rd and reflect on Ch. 12

Do some research online and find 4 different state or local taxes that are levied on taxpayers who live in your neighborhood. They should be 4 different kinds of taxes, such as sales tax, tobacco tax, hotel tax, and property tax.

I live in Redwood City California: the California sales tax is 9.75%, property tax rate is 1.112% (of course this an estimate and it various by property within cities and counties), tobacco tax is 59.27%, and hotel tax is 12% in Redwood city (14% in California overall).

Summarize the tax rates a person who lives in your neighborhood is subject to paying with regard to each of the 4 kinds of taxes, and how these compare to the rates paid by a person who lives in a nearby city. For example, a tax in my city of East Palo Alto is 9.75%. The Sales tax rate in adjacent Palo Alto is 9.0%

Menlo Park has the same sales tax as Redwood City (9.75%), property tax rate is the same (1.112%), tobacco tax is the same, hotel tax is 10%.

Are there ways an individual can avoid paying these taxes? From what I have read no everyone has to pay it, but there are ways that you can minimize taxes by doing it legally. I don’t know much about it, so, I can’t fully explain it. But there are some people who use the tax system to their advantage.

Does everyone pay the taxes equally?

 Yes. A flat tax burdens everyone to pay an identical amount regardless of income or economic transaction. Low-income person/families would have a harder time paying this than someone with a high-income, as it would be a difficult financial burden for the low-income family, forcing them to make financial decisions that would negatively impact their lives. Just so they can pay the taxes making them poorer in the process compared to someone who makes a high-income. 

Are they regressive or progressive? Why might local tax rates vary within a county?

That is a hard question to answer, as it various by one’s income level. Then that person could think of these local taxes as regressive or progressive. Like the point I made earlier, that everyone has to pay taxes equally, but it effects people with different incomes differently. The low-income individual or family are more likely to use public services, so, these taxes to them are progressive, while someone with high-income who doesn’t use public services might find them regressive and a waste of their own money.

Some counties have greater municipal responsibilities, different populations pose different needs for services, some counties serve many nonresidents, or counties have different local revenue raising capacity.

Module 12

 

It can be said that a budget is a statement of values. What values underlie the way your CP gets and spends its money or resources? I am going to answer to the best of my ability, but I have not seen their budget directly. From our discussions it seems like they focus the budget on keeping the facilities running and open, right now they are trying to build a new exhibit for the children to enjoy and educate them. I would say that they value community, respect, responsibility, and integrity. Again, this is based on my assumptions from our weekly meetings.

Which Hallmarks if any, are expressed in the way your CP manages budgeting and service delivery? I would the hallmarks my CP expresses: We educate for and act on behalf of justice and peace in the world, We commit ourselves to community service, We create community among those with whom we work and with those we serve, We develop holistic learning communities which educate for life.

If it’s helpful, relate this concept to your personal experience – in what ways does your own personal budget of time and/or money reflect your values? That is kind of a hard question for me to answer right now, since I have been saving all the money that I have been given/received. To make sure that I can pay my student loans off as soon as possible. I try to budget my time in doing schoolwork, but also giving myself time to enjoy some of my favorite activities and community service for this class.

Module 11

 

Describe the community in which your CP operates… is it a city, a town, a rural area? My CP is in Greenville South Carolina it is a city in the urban area. From what I have gathered about the community there is that they are all focused on finding funding for their organizations and trying to survive the Covid-19 pandemic financially, like any other business in the world right now. They have a pro-business mind set in the community.

What kind of mayor does the community have (describe with reference to the structures outlined in your textbook)? From what I have found online Greenville County has a strong-mayor-council structure, as he appears to be an active major thus far.

Does that form of mayor seem appropriate for the community? It is kind of hard for me to decided this, since I have not lived in the community and have not experienced/seen this mayor’s actions for myself, but he is pro-business. That makes me wonder if my CP is having a harder time getting money from the Greenville council because they are investing in something else that is business oriented.  

Why or why not? From what I have gathered online the city has benefited from the way the mayor operates, as they have been named one of the best cities to live on some magazine. Does your CP interact with local government officials? From our talks, yes, she knows some of the government officials personally or knows someone that could get in contact with them. She tries to have a connection with the local government as well. If you want anything done for your non-profit organization, you have to know people to get things done.

 

Section b:

California’s Climate Change Scoping Plan encourages local governments to reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 15% and increase that percentage every 10 years or so, as they want to be carbon neutral by 2045. Support a clean energy economy, provided an equitable future/less pollution for all communities, improve people’s health by reducing air and water pollution. California’s climate policy portfolio: double building efficiency, 50% renewable power, renewable fuels, zero or near-zero emission vehicles, cleaner freight and goods movement, slash potent “super-pollutants” from dairies, cap emissions from businesses, invest in communities to reduce emissions.