Campground TAXES!

[BobGed]

What was the campground's explanation for the 'special district tax'?

[Al Bundy]

Shouldn't this be a thread on how I saved $48.50 instead of paying an $.18 tax?

[MoCoTom]

Originally Posted by momdoc

Yep local taxes of all kinds are normal these days. Think of it as the government "helping" you.

Of think of it as the BOHICA tax...bend over here it comes again.

[steve52]

This is what happens when national and state level politicians cater to the anti-tax crowd. Revenue sharing to local governments goes away, and they have to get the funds to provide necessary services from somewhere else.

[Solo_RV_Guy]

Originally Posted by arcaguy

Yep, still trying to figure out why William Clay Ford need my $40 more than I did but the powers that be in the State of Michigan thought so. The Lions got a new stadium and I got $40 poorer for something I'll never set foot in or around.

Which raises the question of why local governments seem to line up to give away taxpayer money to build stadiums for billionaire team owners. The studies show that most often these deals turn out to be "negative income" for the local governments (i.e. they never pay back in taxes the amount of money that was ponied up).

[steve52]

Originally Posted by Solo_RV_Guy

Which raises the question of why local governments seem to line up to give away taxpayer money to build stadiums for billionaire team owners. The studies show that most often these deals turn out to be "negative income" for the local governments (i.e. they never pay back in taxes the amount of money that was ponied up).

Because the owners often threaten to move the team, which eliminates any economic benefit the locality currently enjoys. It's the same business model employed by large corporations that extort municipalities for tax breaks in exchange for not leaving town.

[richard5933]

Originally Posted by grindstone01

I agree that local taxes are a rip off, especially for someone just passing through. I often wondered if they are even legit or did the CG just add the charge to their bottom line profit? Who would take the time to verify a local city tax charge like "special district tax"?

Guess I question classifying taxes as a rip off. Every jurisdiction does this in one way or another. We usually don't notice the tourist taxes in our own neighborhoods because we rarely make use of accommodations close to home. Most likely if you checked there are similar taxes and fees in your area.

I just consider these part of the cost of being a tourist, whether in an RV or a hotel.

[RKins]

Originally Posted by HR2004

I guess we have lucked out.. the few places where we used passport america if I paid in cash and it was 15 bucks for the night or 20, that's all they wanted.. I assume the cash didn't go in the till.

My experiences as well - cash rules.

[grindstone01]

Originally Posted by richard5933

Guess I question classifying taxes as a rip off. Every jurisdiction does this in one way or another. We usually don't notice the tourist taxes in our own neighborhoods because we rarely make use of accommodations close to home. Most likely if you checked there are similar taxes and fees in your area.

I just consider these part of the cost of being a tourist, whether in an RV or a hotel.

"Taxation w/o Representation" was a major reason for the founding of our country. A tourist is probably not going to use or need the local services they are being taxed for and they certainly don't have any vote in the tax implementation. A visitor that stays in a location and is paying for a CG/hotel/food would be supporting the community business which then would pay into the local tax base. Adding a local tax just for visitor's is a rip off and just not tourist friendly. I agree that tourist taxing is being done everywhere, but it doesn't make it right.